Lavar Scott is a rising star in the world of motorsports. At 21 years old, he’s making a name for himself as a promising young driver with a compelling story. A New Jersey native and hailing from a drag racing family, Scott’s journey to the stock car ranks has been a testament to his determination and talent. As a member of the NASCAR Drive for Diversity program and a key driver for Rev Racing, Scott is not only competing for wins and championships in the ARCA Menards Series. Still, he is also taking the next step in his career with his recent debut in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
In a recent interview, Scott shared that he’s a third-generation race car driver and from an early age, he fell in love with motorsports.
“I really didn’t have a choice. I grew up in a racing family. My grandfather started the racing legacy. My mom had my older brother, and he started racing when he was five. I followed him, and we both won some pretty big races to get our names out there,” Scott told BET. “That’s how I got the attention of NASCAR’s premier job development and Rev Racing. I’ve been here for five years chasing that dream. My brother still races, and my little cousins race now.”
“My grandpa and my uncle are pretty tough guys, and they always wanted me to be the best. If I didn’t put on my seat belt, they would make me do 50 push-ups. But a couple of weeks ago, we were doing a mini-documentary, and my uncle had to talk, and he started crying,” he continued. “That was the first time I saw him be emotional. It showed me how proud they are of me, and everything that we worked for growing up is slowly paying off.”
Becoming a professional race car driver is not an easy endeavor. To make his dream come true, Scott lived in a camper. Eventually, his undeniable talents caught the attention of NASCAR.
“In 2019, I was 16, and I got invited to go down to a combine where you compete against other drivers.” Scott recalled.“It went from 100 drivers to 50, then to 25, and the last 12 to get invited to come to the combine and compete against each other. That first year, I didn’t make it. I kept in contact with Rev Racing and NASCAR’s premier drive development program. They invited me to come back again later that year for the adult program.
“At 16, I was competing against adults. I looked up to some of them because they were already racing professionally. It was a lot of pressure and some intense moments for me, but I made the team in 2020,” Scott said.
To join the team, Scott had to relocate and be on his own for the first time. It was a small price to pay to live out the vision that he set for his life.
“I moved from New Jersey to North Carolina, and my grandmother came with me for a few months before I was by myself,” he remembered. “Now I’m at the race shop every day and it’s been nothing but amazing and positive for me.”
Last year, Scott became the first Black driver to win Rookie of the Year honors in the ARCA Menards Series. He also finished second overall in the championship standings, becoming one of sport’s elite young drivers. He shared how it felt to make history as a Black race car driver.
“It definitely felt really good. It was a great moment for me, for the team, for my family, and for racing in general. I was the first African American to do that in the history of NASCAR,” he said. “But I’m a competitor, so I wanted to win it all, so I really wanted to win the championship. If it wasn’t for some technical issues, I would have won that trophy too. But I’m proud of it. Every time I walk into the house every day, I get to look at it, and it gets me excited. But this year, I’m going for the main championship trophy.”
Keeping his momentum going, Scott made his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at Dover Motor Speedway in July. Driving his Alpha Prime Racing’s No. 45 car, Scott revealed that he’s been preparing for that moment for much of his life.
“After being nervous during the week, I felt so comfortable when I got into the car on that Saturday. I prepared hard, so I felt like I handled the pressure,” Scott said. “I made one pretty big mistake on pit road, and we didn’t get the result that we should have that day, but I’m not gonna be so hard on myself because it was the perfect day for me. Being on my home track in front of my friends and family. I’m so thankful for that.”
When asked if he’s a part of a secret group chat with other Black drivers, such as Bubba Wallace and Rajah Caruth, Scott revealed that they all keep in contact. As part of a trailblazing group of Black drivers in motorsports, their camaraderie is essential as they continue to climb up the professional ranks.
“If it’s if it’s secret, I really can’t tell,” he laughed. “Me, Bubba, and Rajah do have a group chat, but Rajah and I talk every day. He made his first start in this series in 2022, so he’s a year or two ahead of me. Everything that I’m experiencing, he has already dealt with. He’s a great person to talk to,” Scott said.
“It’s been nothing but pure excitement and positive energy from both of us to each other, because I want to see him succeed, and he wants to do the same for me,” he continued. “So when we have simulation work, we go over it together and prep, and then we both try to dominate.”
As a Black driver in a majority white sport, Scott said he must inspire other African Americans who would love to enter the sport. It’s a part of his mission to be a champion and an ambassador for race car driving.
“There’s definitely added pressure as a Black driver, but it’s something I’m ready for. I love being on the stage, doing well, and showing them that you can do it. It’s nothing that me, Rajah, or Bubba can’t handle,” he said. “What we’ve done over the past five years is incredible. I think we showed a lot of young and not-so-young African Americans, and young people in general, that when you work at something, you can do it.”
After each race, I always get a bunch of DMS from kids saying I inspired them,” Scott continued. “It’s really cool to see that. So it means a lot to me, and I’m going to keep working hard at it to show all the kids out there that you can do anything that you want to do.”