Taking the fast track fits Wyatt Tinsley on his educational journey as well as in his recreational pursuits.
He dreams of becoming a meteorologist. The quickest way to get there, he has decided, is to attend Virginia Peninsula Community College and then transfer to George Mason University. After graduating from Bethel High School in 2024, he enrolled at VPCC, planning to take as many required science classes as possible so he can jump right into his meteorology classes when he gets to GMU.
“I'm going down the list (provided by GMU). I'm getting all the basic classes out the way,” he said.
Tinsley, a lifelong resident of Hampton, has always been intrigued by atmospheric science. He said his ideal job would be a hurricane hunter, but other possibilities are broadcast meteorology and forecaster at a local weather office, such as Wakefield.
His education is not the only aspect of his life where he is full speed ahead. He’s also an accomplished gamer, competing in the eNASCAR iRacing Coca-Cola Series and the iRacing Playfly College Series. He races professionally on the first circuit, competing for the Kansas City Pioneers, and has a VPCC-themed car in the college series. He has a race in each series Tuesday, Oct. 29, with the first one at 7 p.m. and the other at 8:30 p.m. (To watch him race, here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzTAJeDYieA.)
His professional career began about two years ago, and he has one victory.
“It’s really competitive, he said. “There are a lot of great people in the series. It takes a lot of time and effort.”
In the college series, which consists of the 40 best drivers who compete for $500,000 in scholarship money, he has entered one race.
He spends up to 20 hours a week practicing on his racing simulator, saying, “it’s super realistic.”
So much so that he noted several NASCAR drivers use simulators when they are at home or when practice is rained out.
“And a lot of the new drivers that are coming out of the ranks, like from trucks, Xfinity, ARCA (Automobile Racing Club of America), they're all using the iRacing and other simulators to help them get better,” he said.
Tinsley got involved in simulated racing the traditional way. He grew up a NASCAR fan, so he tried simulated racing, eventually transitioning to iRacing when he was about 15.
“I thought this was cool,” he said.
His parents helped him out with a computer for his next birthday, and the following year he made the Coca-Cola series.
“Honestly, (it was) a dream come true,” he said.
Among his biggest supporters are his parents and grandmother.
“My grandma watches all my races,” he said. “She'll get up hooting and hollering every time I race. She definitely provides a lot of support.”
While he realizes some people can make simulated racing a full-time job, he’s not sure if that will be his path. However, he does have a friend who used to compete but now helps NASCAR drivers set up their simulators.
Tinsley has even entertained the thought of racing at Langley Speedway since it’s close to the College and his home.
“NASCAR comes with a price, (but) I'm always open to sponsorships and getting into a real car,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to test something like a Legend car or Late Model.”
For now, though, his sights for a career still are set on the weather.
“Meteorology is something I’ve wanted to do since I was seven years old,” he said. “I’ve always loved the weather.”
For more information on VPCC, visit www.vpcc.edu.