How a 'failed' driver changed NASCAR driver’s performance game for Kyle Larson, Austin Dillon, Sheldon Creed and more

Former Cup Series champion Kyle Larson, Xfinity winner Tyler Reddick, Truck champion Austin Dillon, and ARCA Series winner Sheldon Creed share a common link. It is Josh Wise, a driver once among the 'failed' prospects of NASCAR.

The name Josh Wise may not immediately evoke recognition when remembering the icons of NASCAR. A journeyman on the track, Wise's career in NASCAR turned out to be largely underwhelming for a driver who carried tons of expectations upon his arrival.

To a common eye, it appeared as though Wise's racing endeavors veered precipitously into the realm of disappointment. Yet, Wise has now left an indelible mark on the world of stock car racing.

His post-racing epiphany manifested in a venture to revolutionize driver performance. The driver-turned-mentor envisioned a program that would elevate drivers beyond their perceived limits.

Josh Wise's NASCAR career

Wise's arrival in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2011 was met with great promise. A superstar in open-wheel cars in the 2000s, he entered the arena of stock car racing with a world of opportunity laid out in front of him. However, fate had other options.

In 156 races across six Cup seasons, Wise's resume boasted a single top-10 finish and a scant seven laps led. The grass wasn't any greener in the Xfinity Series. Six top-10 finishes out of 150 races are enough to attach buzzwords like 'failed' to any driver. Josh Wise was no different.

Driving for multiple teams, including JR Motorsports, Front Row Motorsports, among others, a future mentor of Kyle Larson barely made a name for himself.

However, things took a steep turn for Josh Wise in 2017. When he decided to stop driving after the 2016 season, he dreamed up a business to help drivers optimize their results.

He would become for others what he had needed himself. As an accomplished triathlete, Wise already had a reputation for marbling physical fitness with driver preparation. He pitched the idea to a friend and mentor who was an executive with Chip Ganassi Racing at the time.

One pitch led to another and eventually, the former racer was working with the then Ganassi drivers. This included a certain Kyle Larson, the man who would eventually end up winning the Cup championship.

From Kyle Larson to Sheldon Creed: A mentor who molds champions

As Wise’s reputation grew, so did demands for his business, his sense of what was possible and his recognition of what more he could offer.

That growth yielded stunning results for his clients. Apart from Kyle Larson winning the Cup Series championship in 2021, Sheldon Creed also won the Craftsman Trucks championship in 2020.

Tyler Reddick, the 23XI Racing driver who recently managed to reach as deep as the second round of Cup playoffs, won the Xfinity Series championship in 2018 and 2019.

Intriguingly enough, Josh Wise doesn’t count Reddick’s titles as one of his own since Wise 'only' served as a consultant for Reddick back then.

Austin 'The Ace' Dillon, driver for Richard Childress Racing, Daytona winner, and a Truck Series champion, remains another of the Josh Wise projects shining brightly.

Over the years, the 40-year-old has become for the up-and-coming drivers the guiding light he wished he had for himself.

As NASCAR evolves at a rapid rate, Wise remains one of the most influential figures on the grid. At 40, the former driver continued to serve as the driver's performance manager for Chevrolet teams like GMS Racing and Hendrick Motorsports, and CGR.

Through his innovative program, Wise stands as a beacon, illuminating the path to excellence for a generation of NASCAR stars like Kyle Larson.