The 26-year-old Northern California native, who grew up in Manteca, burst onto the NASCAR scene last year and is ready to leave his mark on America. Photo submitted.
With a name like his, it’s only fitting that Scott Speed is one of the hottest new rookies on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series circuit. And, in case you were wondering, yes, that is his real name.
“My dad would’ve come up with a more clever first name than Scott if he’d known I was going to be a racecar driver,” he said.
The 26-year-old Northern California native, who grew up in Manteca, burst onto the NASCAR scene last year and is ready to leave his mark on America’s most popular racing series. And the best part? He can trace much of his success back to experiences at Sonoma’s own Infineon Raceway.
Like many racing stars, Speed got his start behind the wheel of a go-kart. By 1995, the 12-year-old had already earned his first national championship, and that was just the start of his climb through the ranks.
His karting achievements earned Speed a nod to make his open-wheel racing debut with the Jim Russell Racing Championship Series at Infineon Raceway, where he quickly honed his skills and claimed the series title.
In 2003, his skills brought him back to Infineon Raceway with an invitation to the Red Bull American Formula 1 Driver Search. Against some of the nation’s top drivers, Speed won the event and was chosen to compete at a handful of British Formula 3 events. For the next two years Speed continued to gain experience and make a name for himself on the European racing scene.
“I got the opportunity to run the Russell Series because of what I’d done in karting,” said Speed. “That was pretty much the extent of my open-wheel experience, and when Red Bull came up with the Red Bull Driver Search, I was chosen as one of the promising young drivers. It just worked out, and I was in the right place at the right time.”
In 2006, Speed became the first American to compete in Formula 1 since 1993. He competed at motor racing’s top echelon for two years with Scuderia Toro Rosso (Team Red Bull, in Italian), earning a best finish of ninth in just his third start.
“Formula One is the biggest motor sport in the world, and being able to travel all over the world and live overseas was awesome. That’s the most priceless,” said Speed.
After departing Formula 1 in 2007, Speed returned to the U.S. eager for a new challenge. Through his relationship with Red Bull, he made his debut in the ARCA Series. He also tried his hand at the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, earning his first victory in just his sixth race.
All that effort was enough to secure Speed a seat for the 2009 Sprint Cup season, where he’s battling for rookie of the year in the No. 82 Red Bull Toyota. He’ll also run a partial Nationwide Series schedule in the No. 99 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota.
“I would say driving a Formula One car is like flying an F-15 fighter jet and a stock car is like a 747,” said Speed. “To drive by itself, it’s a million times more difficult to drive a Formula 1 car, but a race is probably a little easier. The racing here [in NASCAR] is really, really difficult, and that’s where my learning curve is growing the most.”
In true California fashion, Speed is a far cry from many drivers on the NASCAR circuit. He’s eccentric, always speaks what’s on his mind, and prides himself on being an individual. And, he takes great pride in his fashion sense.
“I certainly carry a lot of European influence in my sense of being laid-back and my fashion and style,” said Speed. “Plus, coming from California you already have a leg up in terms of having experience with different cultures.”
Speed will make his way back to Northern California for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 on Father’s Day Weekend, June 19-21. The event marks Speed’s first professional-level race at his hometown track, and the twists of the Sonoma Valley road course should prove a good match for Speed’s skills. For more information, be sure to visit www.infineonraceway.com or call 800-870-RACE.
