I grew up just a stone’s throw from the bank in Blandinsville, small town roots that run deep.

I graduated from Northwestern High School in 2001 and then went on a bit of an adventure, serving in both the U.S. Air Force and the Army. These days, I call Willard, Missouri home, where I live with my wife and kids.

Believe it or not, I commute to Dallas for work — but only a couple times a month. The rest of the time, the real magic happens right here at home.

Thanks to technology (and a little grit), I’m able to keep things rolling from Missouri, whether I’m working with Gas Monkey Garage, chasing down classic cars, or managing the chaos that comes with family life.

Looking back, growing up in Blandinsville was an experience all its own. Towns like that, tucked away in a sea of cornfields, are rare.

It felt a bit like living on an island, where some folks are your people for life… and others, well, not so much.

But my childhood there was full of laughs, love, and lessons I still carry with me. I have some of my best memories right alongside my father, grandfather, and uncles, learning what it meant to work hard, play harder, and always take pride in what you do.

That little town shaped me more than I probably realized at the time.

Gas Monkey Garage is one of the most recognized names in the car world. Part hot rod shop, part entertainment machine. It all started with Richard Rawlings and a vision to build [cool] cars with big personality and bigger horsepower.

What began as a garage turned into a global brand that mixes gearhead grit with rock ‘n’ roll energy.

As for how I got involved? That’s where it gets a little personal.

I don’t come from a perfect past. I’ve had my fair share of missteps. But a few years back, I set a goal: I was going to turn things around, make my family proud, and do something that mattered.

I told myself I’d take my love for classic cars and turn it into something real.

What I thought would take a lifetime to even get close to… ended up happening over a couple beers and one dang good conversation.

One day I was chasing my dream, and the next I was all in with Gas Monkey helping find cars, making deals, and doing what I love with people who live and breathe this life.

It’s simple, I make things happen that nobody else can. Whether it’s building connections for Richard and the brand, lining up killer collaborations, selling off the stuff that’s been sitting too long, or tracking down the next wild ride, if it needs to get done, I figure out how to do it.

Some days I’m on the phone setting up meetings with major brands or VIPs, other days I’m crawling through barns in the middle of nowhere chasing down forgotten classics.

It’s not a job with a title, it’s a mission. I live in the gray area between chaos and opportunity, and that’s exactly where Gas Monkey thrives

Richard Rawlings didn’t get discovered, he made sure people couldn’t ignore him.

Before Discovery Channel ever called, Richard was already out there hustling, flipping cars, shaking hands, and building something bigger than just a garage.

He had this loud, fearless energy that pulled people in, part car guy, part showman, part outlaw entrepreneur.

He kept saying, “We’re gonna do this on TV,” and people probably laughed… until they didn’t. Discovery eventually saw what the rest of us already knew: this guy wasn’t just building cars, he was building a movement.

Fast N’ Loud hit the screen, and the rest is history. Richard didn’t wait for permission, he created momentum, and Discovery had the good sense to follow it.

Fast N’ Loud wasn’t just another car show, it was lightning in a bottle. It had grit, grease, personality, and just enough chaos to keep you from changing the channel.

What really hooked people was the raw, unfiltered energy. This wasn’t some scripted, polished production, it was real deadlines, real deals, real pressure.

Richard Rawlings brought this larger-than-life swagger to the screen, making big bets and chasing down wild rides like his life depended on it… because most days, it kind of did.

But the magic wasn’t just in the cars, it was in the hustle. Viewers saw someone building an empire from scratch, making moves, talking fast, and not taking no for an answer.

Fast N’ Loud gave people permission to dream big, take risks, and maybe raise a little hell along the way.

Gas Monkey Garage hit the road hard in 2024 and hasn’t looked back since.

What started as a few casual stops to check out some cars turned into full-blown pop-up parties and impromptu car shows across the country. We’d roll into a small town, grab a bite, and next thing you know, boom, there’s a hundred hot rods and a parking lot full of people who just wanted to be part of something.

And let me tell you, it’s been one wild ride.

But don’t let the fun fool you, there’s a ton of pressure behind the scenes. We’re not just showing up to wave and smile. We’re filming a show, buying cars, making real deals, and trying to keep everything running like clockwork.

There’s pressure to hit every stop when we say we will, to deliver for fans and sellers alike, and to keep the crew fired up for the next town, the next lead, the next adventure.

For me personally? This has been just the beginning. I’m living what used to be a dream, but now the goal is to grow it, build it, and keep pushing the limits.

I love the chaos, I live for the hustle, and I’m not stopping anytime soon.

So far, I think my favorite story has to be the time we rolled into my old stomping grounds and made an impression bigger than life.

There’s something special about coming back to where it all started, not just to pass through, but to leave a mark.

We showed up in small towns and communities that don’t always get the spotlight. We lit a fire under the old wrench-heads who thought they’d been forgotten, and gave the new ones, the kids dreaming in their garages, a reason to believe they can be discovered.

But the part that hit hardest? Seeing old friends smile, getting handshakes and hugs from people who knew me way before any of this.

To be embraced in a place where I once wasn’t sure I’d ever be welcomed again… that meant everything. That one’s gonna stick with me for a long time.

It all started like most good stories do, over a few beers with friends. We were sitting around talking cars, specifically COPO Camaros, and I casually mentioned that Fred Gibb Chevrolet, the birthplace of the legendary COPO program, was just six miles down the road from my hometown.

Suddenly, everyone’s eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. Richard looked at me and said, “We have to go there.”

To be honest, I was hesitant. Coming back to Blandinsville with a camera crew and the full Gas Monkey circus? That’s a lot to drop on a quiet town. But we did it and we made a splash.

The response was incredible. We got to honor a piece of automotive history that started right there in our own backyard.

We saw old-school gearheads come out of the woodwork, young dreamers show up with big eyes and bigger ambition, and townsfolk lining the sidewalks like it was a parade.

For me, it was surreal standing in the middle of all that, watching history meet the present, and realizing just how much this little town still matters in the big picture.

What’s there to be afraid of?

Don’t let anyone convince you that you’re stuck, or that the world ends at the edge of town. That’s just fear talking and fear’s a liar. For some folks, staying put might be the right move. But if there’s something in you pulling toward more… don’t ignore it. Get out there. Chase it. See what you’re made of.

Take it from me it’s not easy. It’ll test you in every way. But the experiences, the growth, the people you meet along the way? Worth it every time.

And here’s the thing people forget: home doesn’t disappear just because you leave. It’s always right where you left it. And if life knocks you around a bit, you can always come back — stronger, wiser, and maybe even with a story or two worth telling.