Senior Chief Jeff Priest

U.S. Navy Motorsports Program Manager

I’m lucky to be associated with NASCAR because the fan base is the most patriotic fan base of any sport that I’ve ever been associated with. It never fails, every week, at least one fan walks up to the admiral that’s with me, or me, and thanks us for our service to the country.

NASCAR was the furthest thing from my mind when I joined the Navy. I wasn’t a huge fan before I got selected for the program, and now that I’ve been in it for almost two years, I’m still not a big fan because I’ve seen so much of the behind-the-scenes operations.

Being associated with NASCAR has been a valuable lesson. I am working hand-in-hand on a daily basis with the civilian world. Seeing how civilian corporations work has made me appreciate what we have in the Navy as far as teamwork, unity and camaraderie.

Anywhere I go I’ve got a shipmate. It’s different where civilians are truly competing with each other.

We had an inter-service competition recently between a Navy team and a Marine Corps team. If I were to walk over to the Marine Corps to talk with one of the Marines, he and I would be on the same sheet of music. We’re both in a situation where we’re proud to be serving the country and very proud to be associated with the U.S. military.

The best part of my job is getting to meet the different recruiters and sailors from the different fleets that come to the races each week. What makes it for me is seeing their reaction in the pits and getting to see how they react with being up close and personal with the celebrities of NASCAR. I want to make sure that they’re having a good time and that they don’t feel that it’s duty being at the racetrack.

I’m from a small town in northeast Alabama. I joined the Navy to see the world. I went out and looked at all four branches, and the Navy was the only one that tweaked my interest so far as they could guarantee me a job and a ship date. I’ve been in 18 years now, and I haven’t looked back once.

The first chief who ever had a lasting effect on me took me in his office when I was thinking about separating from the Navy and asked me to tell him my reasons for wanting to get out. I told him that I don’t like having one person with so much control over my life.

He asked, “How will that change when you get out of the Navy?” And, suddenly, I had this light go off over my head: “How’s it ever going to change if I don’t put myself in a position to change it?”

I looked at him, and I know I smiled because he started smiling. I think he knew he had gotten through to me. I walked out of there with a new resolve. You’ve got to put yourself in a position to make a change. That was the one moment in my career that I realized that I’m going to stay and I’m going to do what I need to do to be successful in the Navy.

The best thing I ever did since I’ve been in the Navy is meet and marry my wife Kelly. She really added some perspective to my time in the service and has always supported me. That’s important to have: family support.