Joshua Jackson has overcome numerous obstacles and faced a miraculous recovery to get back behind the wheel. Never losing his confidence and love for racing, Jackson is a great example of the importance of perseverance and hope in the face of adversity.
Hometown: Albuquerque, NM
Division: Pro
Number: 37
Team: Jackson Racing
1. How did you get your start in racing?
I started racing when I was five years old in Quarter Midgets. My grandfather took me to the track for the first time to visit a friend who was racing with his son. I remember getting into the car and not wanting to ever get out, that’s really where it all began for me.
2. How did you get the number 37?
The second Legend car my grandfather bought for me was already numbered 37. When we talked about changing it, I decided I liked the number and chose to keep it. It’s stuck with me ever since.
3. Who is your biggest inspiration?
My biggest local inspiration has always been Sprint Car driver Josh Hodges. It was actually his car I climbed into that first day at the track and didn’t want to get out of. Dale Earnhardt Jr. was also a huge influence on me growing up. I always dreamed of racing against him in NASCAR. While that never happened, he did narrate a documentary I was featured in, NASCAR: Drivers and Dreams – Grassroots Racing in America. He also signed one of the shirts that was sold to help raise money for my family after my accident.
4. What is your favorite racing memory?
I really enjoy connecting with fans and sharing my story, talking about my accident, recovery, and getting back behind the wheel. I also love helping the younger generation and my peers learn more about racing and passing on what I’ve learned over the years.
5. How do you get focused before a race?
I usually get pretty nervous before a race, but as soon as the green flag drops, that all disappears. From that point on, it’s just about chasing the checkered flag.
6. What is your favorite track and why?
The Bullring in Las Vegas. That’s where I won the 2012 Asphalt Bullring Championship and Rookie of the Year, so it will always be a special place for me.
7. You were in a major accident 10 years ago, and this past month you secured a 5th place finish at Dirt Nationals. How have you been able to overcome all of the obstacles and adversity as well as regain confidence behind the wheel?
My accident was in a 360 Non-Wing Sprint Car halfway through my rookie season. I was racing double duty that year, running Legends when I didn’t have a Sprint Car race. On August 8, 2015, I was the middle car in a three-car crash. The first car spun high in turn two and came down in front of me. We made contact, my car went into a wheelie, and the third car’s nose struck and penetrated my roll cage, crushing my helmet, shattering my skull, and causing me to lose my left eye. After seven major surgeries and over ten months in two rehab facilities, I returned to racing just one week before the anniversary of the accident, driving a Legend car at the final race at El Paso Raceway. Out of 20 cars, I finished 6th in my first race back. My journey is featured in a Yeti documentary called A Prayer for Joshua Jackson. There was never any question about going back. Racing has been part of my life since I was 5 years old. I may never reach NASCAR, but racing will always be part of who I am.
8. What is one thing you love outside of racing that most people may not know about you?
Is there really anything outside of racing? Seriously though, I love snowboarding, and I actually got back to it less than a year after my accident as well.
9. If you could name your Legend car, what would you name it and why?
Black Panther. My car was completely black before I had to replace the fenders, and I feel like the name fits: I tend to sneak up on people, wait for them to make a mistake, and take over when they least expect it.
10. If you could travel anywhere in the world for a race, where would you want to go?
Probably somewhere here in the U.S., I’d love to race at Daytona or Talladega in a NASCAR event.
11. After the success you had at Dirt Nationals and throughout this season, what are some goals you have for yourself next year?
After my accident, I’ve learned to take it one race at a time. You never know when it might be your last, so my main goal is to have fun and enjoy every moment I get to compete.
12. You have been racing with USLCI since 2011, what has been the most valuable lesson you have learned behind the wheel of a Legend car?
Of all the cars I’ve driven, Legends have given me the most valuable experience for advancing in racing. The level of challenge, difficulty, and competition really helped me develop as a driver and prepared me for higher divisions. That foundation even helped me earn Rookie of the Year in the Sprint Car series, despite getting injured halfway through the season.