Raised in Columbia Station, Ohio, and now residing in Temperance, Mich., Greg Vandersluis has spent much of his life immersed in motorsports. His passion for racing began at an early age, inspired by his grandfather, Bernie Vandersluis, who competed in SCCA Showroom Stock racing for 15 years. Some of Greg’s fondest childhood memories include visiting his grandfather’s trophy room, listening to racing stories, and attending the SCCA National Championship Runoffs at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Those early experiences helped shape a lifelong passion for road racing and a special connection to Mid-Ohio.
Greg’s own racing journey began at age 17 when he entered his first autocross event in his grandfather’s 1990 Honda Civic Si. After attending an open track day at Nelson Ledges Road Course, he quickly discovered that road racing was where he belonged. In 2008, Greg earned his SCCA competition license and began competing in Improved Touring A (ITA) and H-Production (HP). He earned his first race win that same year at Nelson Ledges, an unforgettable moment that confirmed he had found his calling. His early success continued with NEOHIO SCCA Rookie of the Year honors in 2008 and NEOHIO SCCA Driver of the Year in 2012.
Throughout his racing career, Greg has competed in a wide variety of cars and classes, including SCCA Touring 1, Touring 4, HP, ITA, Improved Touring S, and Improved Touring R, as well as NASA Super Touring 6 (ST6) and American Endurance Racing (AER). In 2012, he campaigned a Corvette Z06 in SCCA Touring 1 while continuing to race his Honda Civic in regional competition. The following year, he moved into a Ford Mustang for a successful Touring 4 campaign. In his debut appearance at the SCCA National Championship Runoffs in 2013, Greg qualified second and finished third. He also tested a Trans Am TA2 car with Pinnacle Autosports in 2011 and earned his NASCAR Xfinity Series license in 2017, when he was scheduled to make his series debut with Obaika Racing before the team ultimately withdrew from its planned events.
Beyond racing, Greg discovered a passion for coaching and helping others develop their driving skills. His instructing career began in 2008 when he was asked to assist at an SCCA driver school at Nelson Ledges. Although he initially wanted to focus solely on racing, working with students and helping them achieve their goals quickly became just as rewarding as competing. In 2012, he joined The Mid-Ohio School, where he has continued to share his knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm for driving.
Mid-Ohio holds a particularly special place in Greg’s heart. Having attended the Runoffs there with his grandparents throughout his childhood, he considers the track an important part of his personal history. Today, he enjoys working alongside the talented The Mid-Ohio School instructor team and helping drivers of all experience levels become safer, more confident behind the wheel.
While Greg enjoys teaching all of The Mid-Ohio School’s programs, the Teen Defensive Driving School is especially meaningful to him. He takes pride in equipping young drivers with practical, potentially life-saving skills they can use on public roads. Watching students gain confidence throughout the day and seeing families enjoy the experience makes the work especially rewarding.
From a childhood spent admiring his grandfather’s racing accomplishments to a career built around competition, coaching, and driver development, Greg’s journey reflects a lifelong dedication to motorsports. Whether chasing a checkered flag or helping a new driver build confidence, he continues to share the same passion that first drew him to the track.