Scott Speed

Speed in 2013

**Scott Andrew Speed** is an American race car driver who has competed in numerous disciplines, including open-wheel, stock car, and rallycross racing. He last competed part time driving the no.95 Ford for Leavine Family Racing in 2013.

## Career

### 2008: First Starts

In 2008, Team Red Bull announced Scott Speed would drive the final races of 2008 in their third entry, the no.82 Toyota Camry in preparation of going full-time in 2009 driving the 82. Speed qualified for all six attempts with a best finish of 16th in the finale at Homestead.

Speed was intending to drive the no.82 Toyota full time in 2009, but the economic crisis of 2008 caused problems for many race teams before the 2009 season, with Red Bull not being able to have enough funding for a third car. Additionally they attempted to purchase the owner's points of Bill Davis Racing's no.22 team after BDR shut down following the 2008 season, but failed as the owner's points ended up being sold to Penske Championship Racing for the team's no.77 Dodge. Later in January 2009, Speed was announced to drive the no.10 Dodge at Petty Enterprises beginning in 2009, where Speed hoped he could stay there until a spot could open up at Team Red Bull. In addition to that, Red Bull would sponsor Speed along with a few other partners from Petty for 2009.

### 2009: Rookie Year

Speed began the 2009 season 35th in the 2009 Daytona 500. The following seven races saw unsatisfying performances with a best finish of 21st in the 2009 Shelby 427 at Las Vegas, until the 2009 Aaron's 499 at Talladega where he scored both his first top five and top ten by finishing 5th. After that, Speed only nabbed three top twenties in the Coke 600, the Bristol Night Race, and the 2009 Dickies 500. Speed finished 35th in points. Petty Enterprises would later announce Speed would remain with the team for 2010.

### 2010: Improvements

Speed began his sophomore year with a better finish in the Daytona 500, with a 19th place run. He led several laps late in the race after not going to the pits with about 19 laps to go. He then followed up with an 11th place showing in the following race at Auto Club despite a rain caution, where he did not pit and ultimately ran out of gas. Two races later he scored his first top ten of 2010, finishing 10th at Atlanta, he later nabbed another top ten at Daytona in July, finishing 10th once gain due to most of his fellow competitors being involved in crashes. Speed finished out his sophomore year with two top tens, and eight top twenties, finishing 30th in points.

Two days after the finale at Homestead, Speed and Red Bull announced that he would finally be joining Team Red Bull, replacing Casey Mears in the no.83 Toyota.

### 2011-2012: Team Red Bull

Speed began his first season with Red Bull, 41st in the Daytona 500, falling 48 laps down after collecting damage in a big crash on lap 28. Speed then recorded his first top ten of the year, after finishing 10th in the third race of the year at Las Vegas. He then went on to nab five more top tens and three top fives, en route to a 25th points place finish. His best finish was 5th (which was what all of his top fives were) at Dover in the spring, New Hampshire and Talladega in the fall. Because of this, Speed was announced to drive for Red Bull again in 2012.

Speed began 2012 with a 26th place finish in the 2012 Daytona 500. However throughout the 2012 season, Speed was unable to repeat his success from the previous season, with only two tens at Daytona in July and Talladega in the fall, Speed finished 27th in points.

After the 2012 season, Team Red Bull closed their doors, leaving Speed and fellow teammate at the time, Steve Park, out of a ride for the upcoming 2013 season.

### 2013: Leavine Family Racing

Later in December 2013, that he would run the majority of the 2013 season for Leavine Family Racing in the No. 95 Ford. However Speed was unable to compete well, only finishing three race at both Daytona races and scoring Leavine's first top-ten finish at Talladega in May, and failing to finish his other starts. Speed was released from the team after Atlanta in September, after he finished 50th.

Speed would leave NASCAR and begin to participate in Global RallyCross Championship the following year, and currently has four championship titles in the series.