From the Skies to the Racetrack: Unlocking the Secrets of High-Performance in Aviation and Car Racing

In the world of high-stakes operations, where failure is not an option, the realm of aviation and high-performance car racing share unique similarities.

·?????MACE Ignites Children's Passion for Reading at NASCAR

·?????The Pursuit of Perfection

·?????Training and Preparedness

·?????Leadership and Team Dynamics

·?????Resilience and Mental Fortitude

MACE Ignites Children's Passion for Reading at NASCAR

Last weekend, I was honored to join NASCAR driver Erik Jones and his team as they raced the number 43 car at Atlanta Motor Speedway. This was in partnership with the Erik Jones Foundation, whose mission is to change children's lives by inspiring them to develop a passion for reading.

My children's book, Upside Down Dreams, was selected as their feature story for the month. Erik donated several copies to a local school and did a live reading of the book at the school. I joined him in the Fan Zone during race weekend to give away books, sign autographs, and do another reading.

This was my first live reading since the book launched, and it was a blast! I have spent a decent amount of time at NASCAR events because my dad is a huge fan, and the Thunderbirds perform the Daytona 500 flyover every year. However, shadowing one specific driver was a unique experience.

I realized how many parallels there are between high-performance car racing and aviation when I saw Erik's routine, the schedule the team endures, and the level of teamwork behind the scenes.?

The Pursuit of Perfection

Pursue perfection relentlessly.?In both aviation and car racing, we realize you never have a perfect flight or a perfect race. The discipline of striving for perfection even after a setback is a habit of high performers.

Expect to improve. Perfection is possible, but it is always fleeting. In both professions, we realize that you're constantly examining your performance and making adjustments. Going into a debrief session with a growth mindset creates the environment to receive feedback, even when it is critical.

Meticulous attention to detail. We operated within inches of failure on the Thunderbirds, and Erik did the same during the race. Neither team can afford to leave anything to chance in this environment. Flying maneuvers like the opposing passes, we worked timing down to the split second. Even our radio calls were planned and anticipated at precise moments each flight. Erik's team tracked every input he made in the car in real-time. They adjusted its handling, timed pitstops, and developed a strategy based on the tiniest details.?

Be prepared for the unexpected.?During the race, there was a pivotal moment when a caution came out, and most of the field pitted. Erik and his team decided to conserve fuel and stay out to move forward in position. They monitored their performance, including how much fuel they had remaining and the threat of an impending thunderstorm. It was a tough decision. It could have cost them a decent run if the race had gone to the end, and they had to pit later on when there was no caution. The race ended early because of the rain, and Erik had a solid finish. They were adjusting decisions in real-time as things changed, and it paid off.

Training and Preparedness

Rigorous training in aviation and car racing can't be over-emphasized. Whether pulling 9Gs in a fighter or making minute adjustments to a steering wheel while turning at 200 mph, we condition ourselves for the strenuous work conditions. This is true for other high-stakes professions. There is a physical and mental stamina necessary for both roles. We also train on tactics and maneuvers, including what to do when the unexpected happens.

We both use repetition, measurement, and feedback?to build muscle memory and hone instinctive decision-making. If something goes wrong in either environment, you must react quickly based on your training.

Leadership and Team Dynamics

Effective leadership?in both aviation and car racing is vitally important. This is true in the individual cockpit or car and within the larger team environment.

Role Clarity.?Erik, his crew chief, and the spotter were all making critical decisions, and there wasn't much time for back-and-forth chatter during the race. It was very obvious that there was a clear understanding of each other's roles. They each knew when their input was important and when to defer their opinion to someone else's.

Sometimes we lead, sometimes we follow.?I experienced this dynamic when I was the Lead Solo for the Thunderbirds. In that position, I would move from being a wingman completely focused on what Boss was saying and flying formation to leading an element and calling the shots several times throughout any show. There would be times when Erik would ask his crew chief what they should do, and at other points, he would make the call on his own. There is a time for each.??

Teamwork is more than a buzzword.?The pilot and drivers are only the most visible members of a much larger team. There are huge parallels between aviation and racing support teams. The driver/pilot gets all the attention and glory, but it is such a team effort. Every role is indispensable in their support of the mission. Everyone must be invested in the end game and understand how they contribute.

Resilience and Mental Fortitude

Mental resilience is required in high-pressure environments.?You have to compartmentalize. Things go wrong frequently, but you have to be able to accept that they happened. Don't let a setback mess up the rest of your flight or race.

Cool under pressure.?Erik had a close call when a car came down the track and bumped him. He was initially upset but regrouped, stayed focused, and continued to race well. You can't change something like this that has already happened. Often it is how you react to it that will determine the success or failure of the bigger mission.

But there are differences in our experiences too.?Maintaining focus, managing stress, and making sound judgments is essential. I talked to Erik's team about how they maintain his "tactical bubble," which is what fighter pilots call the period right before we'd head out to the jets. You need some quiet space to get your mindset right beforehand. Unlike the Thunderbird experience, I watched Erik go from the driver meeting to a red-carpet walk, to stage intros, to the car for the National Anthem, and then straight into his car. Throughout that, the drivers are constantly flagged down by fans wanting photos or autographs, wrangling family, and dealing with random VIPs (like me). It seemed like there were a ton of distractions pre-race. Being able to focus through all of that is a testament to the training and discipline of these athletes.

The high-performance worlds of aviation and professional car racing operate successfully when teams practice the disciplined pursuit of perfection and continuous improvement.