In the heart of Brentwood, Tennessee, where luxury vehicles and strong community values intersect, Nelson Andrews is steering more than just the Andrews Transportation Group. As president of Andrews Cadillac and Jaguar Land Rover Nashville, Nelson has deep roots in Middle Tennessee that extend far beyond the car business. For decades, he’s used his platform and resources to fuel the community through nonprofits, races, and local partnerships that make a difference.

Andrews, a Brentwood City Commissioner, has lived in the area his entire life. He and his wife Trish raised four children here and have built a legacy of giving back. “He didn’t set out to be involved in races,” Nelson shares. “He set out to be involved in the community.”

That spirit of service led to the creation of the Andrews Cadillac Firecracker 5K, a beloved July 4th tradition in Brentwood that has been running strong for over 25 years. It all began when Bob Knestrick and George Crook from the YMCA approached Nelson with a vision for a community-based fundraiser. “They brought me down to see the YMCA programs—Restored Ministries, ABC for Breast Cancer, the youth outreach with the juvenile court. I was sold,” he says. “Then they mentioned reviving a July 4th race, I thought, “what better  way to start Independence Day than with something healthy, communal, and for a great cause?”

While the race began as a way to raise funds, it’s evolved into something much more meaningful. “There’s something special about kicking off a holiday like the 4th of July with fitness and fellowship. It’s usually a beer and hot dog kind of day, so it’s nice to start it differently—with purpose.”

Though once a regular runner at Crockett Park, knee injuries have shifted Nelson’s routine toward more interval-style workouts. “I had to adjust my form, but I still get out there from time to time. I enjoy the activity—I just had to meet my body where it’s at.”

Nelson’s philosophy is simple: do what you can, when you can. “doing something is infinitely better than doing nothing,” “he says.” “you don’t have to be a marathoner to make an impact.”

That mindset recently led Nelson and his team to support the 5K to Beat ALS in partnership with the T. Shaw Strong Foundation. Though initially hesitant to take on another race so close to the Firecracker 5K, the cause hit close to home. “We lost one of our own, Steve Adkins, to ALS, “Nelson explains. “He was active, fit, the kind of guy who championed every program we did. Watching how quickly ALS took him—it was devastating.”

The decision to host the ALS fundraiser at the Andrews dealership was easy. “It felt right. We had the infrastructure, the space, and the heart for it. The race route was already mapped from the Firecracker 5K, and we knew the Vanderbilt team behind it. It all aligned.”

But Nelson’s commitment to the community doesn’t stop at the finish line. His dealership also serves as a unique venue for nonprofit events—from small board mixers to large-scale fundraisers like the ABLE Voices Night Out, which showcases artwork and music from differently-abled individuals. “these are the stories we love. These are the reasons we do what we do.”

Whether supporting local nonprofits, spotlighting uniquely-abled artists, or hosting races that change lives, Nelson Andrews proves that business and community can go hand in hand—and that sometimes, a dealership can be more than just a place to buy cars. It can be the starting line for something much bigger.

Want to get involved?

Sign up for the 5K to Beat ALS at www.5ktobeatALS.org. The race begins and ends at Andrews Cadillac in Brentwood, TN—1 Cadillac Drive, right off Old Hickory Boulevard and Brentwood Boulevard—with plenty of parking and plenty of purpose.