From NASCAR Spotter to Solopreneur: Derek Kneeland's Journey in Racing and Business

Derek Kneeland is a veteran NASCAR Spotter and the Owner of Kneeland Klean, a pressure and soft washing company serving homes and businesses. Derek grew up in Windham, Maine, racing go-karts from the age of eight and later transitioned into Late Model and Super Late Model racing. As a spotter, he works for top teams, including Richard Childress Racing in the Cup Series with Kyle Busch, and also spots in the Xfinity, Truck, and ARCA Series. Beyond spotting, Derek owns and races his own Super Late Model car in select major short-track events. In this episode… Many driven professionals wrestle with the challenge of pursuing their passion while securing financial stability. How can you build a life around your dream career while still creating a backup plan for the future? Is it possible to balance the thrill of high-pressure work with the steady growth of a personal business? Derek Kneeland, a veteran NASCAR Spotter and small business owner, shares how he turned his love for racing into a thriving career while launching a pressure washing venture to diversify his income. Derek advises starting small — testing the waters with a limited financial investment — before scaling up with better equipment and systems. He stresses the importance of time management, balancing work and family life, and leaning on mentors and supportive relationships to sustain momentum in both motorsports and entrepreneurship. In this episode of The Road Already Traveled, Rich Schuette interviews Derek Kneeland, Owner of Kneeland Klean, about blending a NASCAR career with growing a local service business. Derek discusses building a pressure washing company from scratch, the costs and logistics of running his own race team, and the lessons he learned from mentors and family support.