Nicole and Joe McKinnon’s journey began at GM, working in Cadillac’s Performance division, and has since taken them from the office to off-road racing.
Now, nearly a decade later, Nicole and fellow GM engineer Kristen Goslawski placed fifth among rookie drivers in the Rebelle Rally, navigating the grueling desert terrain in a Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison— a truck Joe and his GM team helped prepare. Adding to their milestones, Nicole and Joe are expecting a baby girl this month.
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Nicole started at GM as an infotainment integration engineer before transitioning to performance and off-road motorsports, where she now manages Chevrolet’s factory-backed off-road racing team, led by Chad Hall.
Joe, whose father has been with GM for over 30 years, launched his own career at Milford Proving Grounds and now leads the product electronic technician teams for GM’s full-size, mid-size, and battery electric trucks.
Nicole played a key role in bringing Chevrolet into the Rebelle Rally, an eight-day, 2,500-kilometer off-road challenge where teams navigate using only paper maps and compasses. Joe and his team worked behind the scenes, selecting the best GM Performance Parts and outfitting the Colorado ZR2 Bison for the race.
Built in collaboration with American Expedition Vehicles (AEV), the 2024 Colorado ZR2 Bison is designed to handle extreme terrain, tested by champion racer Chad Hall and proven on the legendary Rubicon Trail. Nicole, now looking ahead to future rallies, sees the experience as a testament to Chevrolet’s off-road capabilities and the dedication of GM’s employees.
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