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Dn8 In The Life - Time For a Change with Brehanna Daniels

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Dn8 In The Life - Time For a Change with Brehanna Daniels

Apr 16, 2025

The Air Max Dn8 reflects the infinite innovation, experimentation, and creativity happening everyday in untold stories of those who challenge– and ultimately change– the culture. From art and style, to social impact and sport, we love showcasing the ways our community embodies the spirit of bold boundary pushing.

TIME FOR A CHANGE

Change isn’t just inevitable. Sometimes it’s necessary. As a baller-turned-NASCAR-tire-changer, Brehanna Daniels has mastered the arts of embracing change, overcoming adversity, and finding her groove.

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The Virginia Beach-born athlete originally played for Norfolk State University’s basketball team, but in 2016 she took a chance on trying out for a NASCAR opportunity– despite never having watched it. One callback later, she was selected to train professionally and relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina. During her six months of training, she was under the guidance of Coach Phil Horton, director of athletic performance at Rev Racing.

“We had to figure out what athlete fit the position of what they were going to be doing as a pit crew. Brehanna fit the template because she was a point guard. She had what we like for our tire changers to have: finesse. You need finesse and not so much power. You need to be accurate.”

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The two bonded over common experiences within the sport, as Phil described it being “99.9% White and male” when he started in 1998. As the first Black pit crew coach, he had a wealth of knowledge to pass to Brehanna— who would go on to become the first Black woman in a NASCAR pit crew.

“It's an individual thing that comes together as a team,” he would often remind her, emphasizing the importance of striking a balance between personal excellence and team collaboration. Her basketball experience informed how she handled both, making this change feel smooth and seamless.

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“I was a part of the team sport my entire life…so the skills that I learned in basketball transitioned to me being a pit group member very easily. I was already low to the ground, poised, calm. You have to make certain decisions being a point guard. The pressure is always on you. So just like with the tire changers, you have to have that quick hand speed.”

Now in her ninth season, Brehanna reflects on her journey with pride, citing the influence of her faith and her mother (who she lost to breast cancer) as her motivation to keep going.

“Whenever I feel like giving up on anything, I always think about her. No question.” And this held true even for Brehanna’s ACL tear back in 2022. Knowing that so many people looked up to her, she pushed through and got back in the pit.

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Her advice to young people ready for the fast lane?

“Make sure you always believe in yourself no matter what the haters have to say. As long as you believe in yourself, you can do anything in this world you put your mind to and always be you unapologetically.”

From point guard to pit crew, Brehanna Daniels is a true culture challenger because she’s unafraid to try new things and adapt to all of life's changes. Why roll with the punches when you can go full throttle?

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