From passion to production: Carter Tennyson ’25 builds a career in motorsports media
From photographing cars at a local Cars and Coffee event to owning his own media company, Carter Tennyson ’25 has turned a passion for motorsports into a career. Now working in social media management and production for The Garage Shop, Tennyson reflects on how UNC Charlotte and his marketing degree helped shape his business, build his network and open doors in the motorsports industry.
How did you get your start in motorsports photography?
When I was in high school, I attended a Cars and Coffee event that had only about 300 cars at the time. I was one of the few people there with a camera, so I spent the day photographing the cars, meeting their owners and pitching my work. That experience eventually grew into my own car photography business, which I ran throughout middle and high school. After moving to Charlotte, I connected with several professional drivers, and those relationships helped me transition from car photography into the motorsports industry.
How did those friends and your time at UNC Charlotte help shape who you are today?
UNC Charlotte gave me the tools to figure out how to run and market my business. Most of my friend group was made up of car enthusiasts I met on campus. It started with just five of us who were really into motorsports, and over time, that group grew into a community of about 200 people. Those friendships and shared interests helped shape my business and played a big role in where it is today.
What specific skills from UNC Charlotte did you gain that applied directly to starting and owning your own business?
I built a broad range of skills over those four years, but one of the biggest things I use day-to-day is knowing how to put together clean pitch decks and presentations. Being able to communicate information clearly, whether through a pitch deck, social media content or even a business card, made the transition to running my own business much easier. Having the opportunity to develop those skills over four years gave me a strong foundation to build on once I was out on my own.
How has your media company evolved since you first started it?
I created Velocity Media to be a one-stop shop for drivers, teams, events and anyone who needs media coverage. No matter the racing series, we offer video, photography and hybrid coverage for teams across IndyCar, IMSA, NASCAR and more. We show up, capture the content and deliver it, giving clients full usage rights and ownership of the work. The goal is to provide everything they need under one umbrella without having to outsource different parts of the job to multiple people.
How did you get connected with the team at The Garage Shop and what has this experience been like for you?
One of my friends sent me a post from The Garage Shop’s Instagram looking for someone to manage their social media. I reached out to Tony Brown, co-owner of The Garage Shop, and we started talking. I sent over my resume and examples of my work and we set up a video call. From there, things took off, and I’ve been managing the social media ever since.
The Garage Shop is restoring one of the cars used in the movie “Talladega Nights.” What has it been like to experience that restoration and capture it through your camera?
Coming from circuit racing, the world of land speed racing is very different — from its point system to its schedule, it’s been a whole new learning experience for me. There’s always something new happening, with different cars and projects coming through every day. At first, I didn’t realize how authentic the car was, but seeing little details, like the message Will Ferrell wrote on the seat, really confirmed it. There are so many cool details, and it’s been exciting to watch the team work on it. You never really know what project is going to roll through the door next.
As a young alumnus, what advice would you share with current UNC Charlotte students trying to break into the media space or start their own business?
Networking is the biggest thing. UNC Charlotte hosts career fairs and other opportunities to connect with people that a lot of students overlook. Building those relationships and making connections can have a huge impact on the opportunities available to you down the road.
Read more about how The Garage Shop brought the “Talladega Nights” racecar back to life.
Written by: Carter Tennyson, Lily Warlick and Alex Reynolds