Know Your Mechanic
Before you let someone touch your car, you deserve to know who's showing up.
Meet Josh Kemp — Owner & Lead Mechanic
Josh isn't your typical mechanic. He didn't just read a manual and call it a day. He built race cars. He traveled the country with a racing team, wrenching on high performance machines that couldn't afford to break down — because on a track, your life depends on it. He even had the honor of working on an ARCA NASCAR team at Daytona. That's the level of knowledge and passion that shows up at your door every single time you call GearHead Mobile Automotive.
From The Track To Your Driveway
Growing up in Wilmington, IL, Josh was obsessed with motorsports. NASCAR, Nitro Circus, anything with an engine and speed — he was hooked. That passion turned into a career when he landed a full time role with a small racing team, starting with maintenance on high performance race cars before eventually helping build their own cars from the ground up and signing on a driver to compete across the country.
But life has a way of shifting gears. When Josh started a family, he made the choice to come home and slow down — because family comes first. He worked at several local shops, sharpening his skills in everyday automotive repair, but something was missing. He wanted to work for himself again. He wanted to make a real difference. So he went mobile.
Why Mobile? Why This Community?
Josh didn't open GearHead to be just another repair shop. He opened it because Wilmington and the surrounding communities of Grundy, Will, Kankakee, and Cook County deserve better. A mechanic who comes to you. A mechanic who knows your name. A mechanic who actually gives a damn.
As an ASE Certified technician with over 12 years of experience — including time building and racing competitive race cars — Josh brings a level of skill and dedication to every job that most shops simply can't match. Whether it's a routine oil change or a complex repair, he treats every vehicle like it's lining up on the starting grid.
A Family Man. A Community Man. Your Mechanic.
At the end of the day, Josh is a local guy who loves his family, loves his community, and loves what he does. He believes that everyone deserves honest, reliable automotive care — and that a good mechanic can genuinely change someone's life. That belief is built into everything GearHead Mobile Automotive does.