Hunter Jordan has enjoyed the step up from winning and leading Bandolero races, to the continuing to develop as a race car driver Legend Car. He is one of many athletes that competes at a high level with Type-1 Diabetes, but he doesn't let that slow him down. Jordan hopes to continue to work his way up the racing ladder and up into NASCAR. And if he couldn't be behind the wheel of a race car? He'd be playing golf.
Hometown: Davidson, NC
Division: Semi-Pro
Car Number: 81
1. How did you get your start in racing?
So I started racing when I was around 8 years old. I got a car for Christmas; my grandpa delivered it to his house as a little surprise. We took it to Concord and raced my first ever Bandolero race and then ever since, moved my way up through the rankings. I ran all sorts of INEX U.S. Legend Cars national events and now we’re here at the Summer Shootout.
2. How did you come up with your car number?
There was no really intentions of it, just really picked a random number. Now I realize racing and moving up the levels, in Legend Cars there’s been history with Jordan and #81. Lee Jordan runs the #81 as well as few other Jordans have in the past, so it’s cool to carry on the tradition.
3. What is the best piece of advice someone has given you in regards to racing?
Really never give up, really fight through anywhere. There’s always something better that you can do. Even when you go out there and win a race, there’s still something that you messed up. You’re always not perfect. Sometimes you get lucky, but you can always get better. Get taught and listen, that way you make up whatever you miss.
4. What did it mean to have your grandfather as such an influential part of your racing career?
My grandpa is really what got everything started. He’s the person behind me all the time, helping me as my main sponsor. Really helping me get through everything and that’s why I’m racing.
5. How did it feel to win the Southeast Bandolero Tour Championship in 2022?
That was definitely a journey. It was a long one. It was definitely fun traveling. Back in 2022, we were traveling everywhere. We were racing my Bando in the Outlaw Division. Everywhere we went, people would be surprised that we showed up and we would have a fast car no matter where we went. We ran and won a couple big races, and we won 6 races out of that championship including the championship which was the big one.
6. What did you have to change in your driving style going between your Bandolero and Legend car?
They’re totally different. Bandos you have to learn patience. You can be flawless and the other person and mess up, it’s not always your fault. Legends are 50/50. It’s really tight racing. Here at the [Cook Out Summer] Shootout, the whole field can be within five tenths. It’s really tight and it’s definitely something different.
7. Which do you prefer racing, ovals or road courses?
I haven’t really run much road courses. I’ve been mainly an oval guy, but doing the Winter Heat at Charlotte Motor Speedway was definitely fun for a Legend Car. Legend Car shifting with the clutch is totally different on a road course, but I would definitely say oval because I do it a lot more.
8. How do your teammates push and motivate you to get better?
My teammates are always behind us no matter what happens. If you wreck, you wreck, but they always believe in you and no matter what happens on the track, they always like you the next day. They really motivate me and they’re strong teammates.
9. What has been the biggest learning moment in your career?
Probably showing up to a different race track each time having not raced it. Definitely difficult to learn about a race track, running like two practice laps, then you go out an race.
10. How has being a Type-1 Diabetic challenged and motivated your career?
Type-1 diabetes is something that I have to deal with both on and off the race track. I try not to think about it a lot. I try to push through no matter what is happening. Sometimes it goes low, sometimes high. At the end of the day, I try to push through and manage what I can and can not do.
11. What is your favorite track to race at?
That’s a tough one but I would probably say Nashville (Fairgrounds). I haven’t raced there a lot but past Nashville Spring Series was fun. I definitely liked that track.
12. If you had to pick one motorsport event to win in the world, what would it be?
Probably the Eldora Million. That’s one I’ve been looking up to. Definitely different, different sport. When it comes from asphalt to dirt, dirt is way difficult in Sprint Cars, so definitely the Eldora Million. That would be a cool one.
13. What are your long-term career goals?
I try work my way through the stepping stones from Legend cars, to Late Models, and then possibly ARCA, Trucks, and Xfinity. I want to make it into NASCAR if that’s possible.
14. If it weren’t for racing, what would you be wanting to do in life?
Probably golf. I play a couple other sports, basketball and golf for school, but I would probably try to get to the PGA tour for sure.