Automotive performance shop owner redefining the meaning of LYFE

SM Headline: Check out race cars being built near you by LYFE Motorsport

Cole Powelson, the owner of the automotive performance company LYFE Motorsport, uses his experience and dedication to his customers and employees to make his business stronger. LYFE is an automotive company that specializes in fabrication, racecar building and overall car performance.

Powelson’s passion for racing started early in his life. His mother owned a nightclub that would occasionally host car shows. One day he had an opportunity to take a ride in one of those cars, and that ride would forever change his life.

“I was only 15 years old,” Powelson said. “The car I rode in was a Ferrari 355 and I had never felt anything like it before. I knew from then on I wanted to be in the performance industry.”

Powelson graduated early from high school to start his college career at Universal Technical Institute in the automotive department and applied for the Porsche training program.

“Tens of thousands of people apply for the Porsche program every year,” Powelson said. “Only 12 are accepted. I worked hard, had a 4.0 GPA and fortunately I was accepted.”

Critical things happened during his time at Porsche, but he always had racing and performance in the back of his mind.

After graduation from UTI Powelson wanted to move back to Utah for work. He was fortunate in getting hired at the Porsche dealership in Salt Lake City. Powelson said he used all of his paid vacation days to work on a Porsche racing team that traveled around the country. After that he never had a problem finding a job.

Powelson has held multiple jobs in the automotive performance industry since his days at Porsche which helped him start LYFE Motorsport in 2014.

“Working for other people and seeing the good and the bad have helped me here,” Powelson said. “Being able to learn from other people’s mistakes and their success is very valuable.”

Along with other people’s mistakes, being honest with himself has been helpful to his success.

“I have tried to learn my own weaknesses as well,” Powelson said. “I have hired people that have strengths where my weaknesses are, and that isn’t always an easy thing to admit.”

Chris Stone, the operation manager at LYFE, has a similar view.

“We understand our strengths,” Stone said. “We pool everything together and fill in the gaps. The willingness to learn and constantly wanting to improve keeps everyone happy.”

Aside from his experience in the automotive field, Powelson is a people person.

“Cole is one of the nicest people you will ever meet,” Stone said. “Anyone can walk up to him, and he will take time to talk with you. After five minutes of talking, you feel you can trust him, because he is a great guy. He knows how to read people and understands how to give them what they want.”

At Import Spring Show Off, a recent local car meet, a participant shared their experience with Powelson.

“He is such a nice guy,” said Rhett Panter. “He’s the kind of guy that is willing to sit down and talk with anybody.”

The combination of experience and customer service that Powelson shows every day at work is the true meaning of LYFE.

“I named the company LYFE because it is an extension of my life and what I believe,” Powelson said. “It’s about being the best at whatever you do, and that is what we strive to do here every day. I don’t need a million bucks and I don’t need to be the biggest shop. I just want to do the best I can and see where it takes me.”