East valley resident Wes Hawkins and owner of Highline Car Care turned his passion for automotives not only into a successful career, but he is also fueling his need for speed.
Building a successful shop isn’t all that Hawkins is doing though when it comes to cars, as he has turned his enthusiasm for cars into a passion for racing. “I have found drag racing to be the perfect outlet for me to get my thrills and remain mentally and physically sharp.”
Over the past several years Hawkins developed a Nissa GTR into a full-on race car that he has taken on the journey of a lifetime. “I've learned so much about building, tuning, and drag racing that I never would have without this car. I've met some amazing people and forged solid relationships with like-minded individuals all around world.” For some race fans, they may wonder why Hawkins chose this car, but for him, the choice was simple. “Nissan GTR is an exceptional platform that will handle loads of power and keep asking for more! It will out accelerate, out corner, and out-brake many supercars, all while leaving a giant grin on your face.”
Despite his passion and love for the sport, it can take its toll on Hawkins time and energy. “I’ve told myself probably a handful of times that I’m going to stop upgrading the car after this race.” However, despite that feeling and thought process, Hawkins finds himself continuing down the road of drag racing. “After each of those races I’ve felt alive, invigorated, and motivated to keep pushing the platform further. It’s been a mental, physical, and emotional journey that has brought much a much-needed passion to my life.
For Hawkins, it isn’t always about winning the races, but showing up and performing his personal best each time. “There are much bigger shops with racers with more experience, time, and money to win. We just hope to have a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day.”
