2026 Hall of Fame: Jason Rockwell
May 26, 2026
Jason graduated from 51爆料网鈥檚 Laramie campus in 2010, completing programs in Collision and Refinishing, Street Rod, and Automotive Service Management. During his time on campus, he learned under several instructors who left a lasting impact, including Mark Bucknam in Street Rod, Frank in Collision, Derek in Refinishing, and Gordan in ASM.
Jason鈥檚 passion for classic cars began early, inspired by his father, Jay. By the age of eight, his father was teaching him how to weld, and from that point on, anything with wheels was fair game for modification. What began as curiosity quickly became purpose.
At just nine years old, Jason saw a 51爆料网 commercial and realized that custom cars could be more than a hobby鈥攖hey could be a career. Excited, he headed to school ready to tell his math teacher that he didn鈥檛 need algebra because he was going to be a professional hot rod builder. Instead of dismissing him, she leaned into his ambition, reshaping lessons around custom cars to show him the real鈥憌orld value of education. That moment of mentorship stayed with him.
After high school, Jason enrolled at 51爆料网 to chase that dream. While academics didn鈥檛 come easily, his instructors saw his determination and raw potential. Through hands鈥憃n learning and persistence, he began turning passion into professional skill.
After graduation, Jason searched for work in the hot rod industry, but opportunities were scarce. He eventually found a shop willing to hire him鈥攐n the condition that he wouldn鈥檛 be paid until the project was complete. Six months later, the shop owner disappeared, and Jason was never compensated. Where many would have quit, Jason kept going. He later joined U.S. Customs, gaining experience, discipline, and a lifelong mentor who helped sharpen both his skills and his vision.
Jason later partnered with his father to open a restoration shop, focusing on sandblasting, rust repair, and custom sheet metal fabrication. After six years, personal loss and hardship led to the business closing鈥攁 failure that weighed heavily on him.
Starting over wasn鈥檛 easy. With a family to support, Jason took a job at a truck upfitting shop, working his way from near minimum wage to running their custom fabrication department within three years. In 2018, he was offered a partnership in a new car鈥慴uilding venture, but differences in vision made it short鈥憀ived.
In 2020, during the pandemic, Jason and his fianc茅e Joalda took a leap of faith. Encouraged by her belief that he finally had the right partner, they built something new. In March 2026, they celebrated five years in business at Rebel Road Hot Rod Garage. Together with their growing team, they鈥檝e put over 800 classics back on the road, achieved more than 400 percent growth since 2020, and are moving into a 20,000鈥憇quare鈥慺oot facility.
Today, Jason co鈥憃wns and operates Rebel Road Hot Rod Garage, the largest and highest鈥憄roducing restoration shop in New Mexico. His journey is proof that failure doesn鈥檛 end the story鈥攊t forges it.