Jimmy White, Media Relations Director
By Whitney Black
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to feel the
adrenaline running through your veins as the scent of gasoline
and burning rubber consumed your sense of smell? Jimmy White
experiences this every weekend, from February through November,
as the media relations director for Affinia Motorsports.
From English internship to dream job
In White's position, he gets to be around NASCAR almost seven
days a week. Affinia Motorsports handles the public relations
for the Raybestos Rookie of the Year and WIX Filters Lap Leader
programs in NASCAR. White's job consists of writing press
releases, race reports, media reports and notes. He is responsible
for distributing quotes to deadline media at each race.
White says the internship he did for his English major landed
him his first job. He was driven by his desire to land a job
in stock car racing. This desire helped him “slug his
way” through biology and Spanish classes. In fact, his
dream of getting a job with NASCAR inspired him to pursue
a college education in the first place. He realized a degree
would give him an edge in landing this job, and he wanted
every advantage he could get.
A typical NASCAR week
White’s favorite part about his job is being a part
of a young driver’s first big NASCAR win. His typical
work week, which consists of being in the office one day,
traveling for two days, and being at the racetrack for three
days, is the stuff dreams are made of.
White is proudest of receiving the 2006 Ken Patterson Helping
Others Award from the National Motorsports Press Association,
which is essentially the public relations “person of
the year” award as voted on by members of the motorsports
media.
Doing it on his own
It took him a year and over 100 resumes to get his first
job. He is very proud of what he has accomplished in his career
so far. He entered an industry where nobody knew who he was,
so everything he has accomplished he owes to his work ethic
and job performance.
White advises, “No matter what profession you may choose,
always return a phone call or an e-mail in a timely manner.”
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