John Shoffner

John Shoffner, born on July 25, 1955, in Fairbanks, Alaska, is a multifaceted American individual known for his accomplishments as a racing driver, investor, pilot, and astronaut. Shoffner's journey into motorsports began after a successful 21-year career in the telecommunications industry, retiring as president of Dura-Line in 1997. In 2012, he founded J2-Racing with his wife, Janine, achieving multiple class wins and podium finishes in Carrera Cup and GT3 class competitions. He has participated several times in the Nürburgring 24 Hours, securing a 2nd in class in 2016 and a 3rd in class in 2017.

Shoffner has been competing with Team GetSpeed since 2019 and achieved a 2nd in the 2019 Nürburgring Endurance Series Carrera Cup Class Championship. Beyond racing, Shoffner is an accomplished pilot with over 8,500 flight hours and owns a Republic P-47D Thunderbolt. He is also an avid sportsman, with experience in water skiing, cycling, white-water kayaking, hang gliding, and skydiving, with over 3,000 skydives and BASE jumps.

In May 2021, Shoffner paid for a seat on Axiom Mission 2, marking a historic moment as the first racing driver to venture into space. He served as the pilot of the Crew Dragon crew vehicle, launching on May 21, 2023, for a mission to the International Space Station. His diverse achievements reflect a lifelong pursuit of excellence across various fields, blending his passion for motorsports with his adventurous spirit and dedication to space exploration.