Oklahoma coffee shop duo make a NASCAR pit stop to remember

A local NASCAR enthusiast can recite the career highlights of his favorite stock car driver as easily as he can share what's on the menu at the Oklahoma City coffee shop where he is a valued employee.

That's why Oklahoma-based nonprofit Not Your Average Joe sent Brendon, 33, to a recent NASCAR Cup Series race on the East Coast.

Brendon's family said he lives with Asperger's syndrome, a high-functioning form of autism. Not Your Average Joe coffee shops employ people with intellectual, developmental and physical disabilities. The organization's motto is "Exceptional coffee. Accept-ional people" and it is proud vehicle sponsor of NASCAR driver Armani Williams, who is on the autism spectrum.

Tim Herbel, founder of Not Your Average Joe , learned of Brendon's love of all things NASCAR as he got to know Brendon as a team member at the organization's Midtown coffee shop at 1227 N Walker.

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With the support of Not Your Average Joe, Brendon made the trip to the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudin, New Hampshire, in June, along with Cole Klassen, an Oklahoma Christian University student serving as one of the nonprofit's interns.

On a recent weekday afternoon, Brenden took a break from his coffee shop duties to describe his experience at the NASCAR race. Dressed in a NASCAR pit crew jacket and a cap touting the merits of his favorite NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon, he said he was excited that he got to sit right above Williams' pit stop area where the NASCAR driver's pit crew changed tires, refueled the car and made other adjustments.

"It was awesome to be part of that," Brendon said.

Klassen, 21, said he also loved getting a front-row seat to watch as Williams sped around the track. A business management major heading into his senior year at OC, he said he took a social entrepreneur class and decided he wanted to intern with Not Your Average Joe over the summer.

Klassen said he felt honored to go on the trip with Brendon for several reasons, particularly because it was the first time besides summer camp that Brendon had been away from home. Their plane ride from Oklahoma City to Boston was also Brendon's first time flying.

Klassen said they also visited several historic sites in Boston, including the Freedom Trail, before driving to New Hampshire for the race.

Brendon said he liked visiting the New England Aquarium and both men said they were excited when they were able to catch part of the celebration that was held for the Boston Celtics' NBA championship win.

"When we got in the city, I tried to rush downtown, and we basically got to the end of the parade location just as it ended," Klassen said. "So, we didn't actually get to see any of the players or anything, but we were surrounded by all the hub of it. It made me want the (Oklahoma City) Thunder to win even more because it was so exciting."

On track

Klassen said the big takeaway from the trip was that it was made possible through the nonprofit's supporters and Not Your Average Joe, which provides team members with these special experiences.

"And, they're big lifetime memories for Brendan, for sure, and for me too," Klassen said. "It's cool that we, through the kindness of people who shop here, who buy our stuff and who give, we're able to provide these really cool experiences."

Herbel agreed.

He said Not Your Average Joe will continue to give their team members opportunities for special experiences as long as it can through community support.

"In this particular case, Brendan was probably the world's largest NASCAR fan already," Herbel said "He draws it on the cups. He wears the jacket. He has the hat. He's always watching and so this was just a really good fit."

He said after high school, individuals with special needs sometimes lose their educational benchmarks, their social circles and they also don't move as much.

But, he said team members are given ample opportunities to show their "super powers" every day with Not Your Average Joe.

"Obviously, it starts there at the coffee shop in the workplace or at the coffee roastery or the ice cream producing or the catering," Herbel said.

"But it goes beyond that to continuing education, to social engagement, and to these once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to get to experience what other people take for granted."

To learn more

For more information about Not Your Average Joe, go to https://www.nyaj.coffee/ .

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma coffee shop duo make a NASCAR pit stop to remember