Scott Lagasse Jr. - Career

Career

Lagasse entered his first auto race in 1998 at age 15, driving his dad’s NASCAR Florida Modified Car. Scott captured the pole, led every lap and won his first race. This made Lagasse the youngest driver to win a Modified race at St. Augustine Speedway.

In 1999, Lagasse raced a Chevrolet Monte Carlo in the Sportsman Division, winning regularly. At mid-season, engine builder Marv Palmer offered Scott an opportunity to step into the top division, NASCAR Late Model. Immediately Scott began his domination in the division by qualifying on the pole in all seven events that season and winning five. Lagasse capped off his 1999 season winning the TOP GUN Challenge Championship.

Lagasse acquired a nine year old Late Model chassis in 2000, updated it and competed in a limited schedule in the Late Model Division. The following year he won eleven races in fifteen starts and won the Late Model Championship.

In 2002, Lagasse began an extensive physical/mental training program designed by HPI (Human Performance Institute), a company known for their work with world class athletes from many sports. Lagasse’s on-track development included a variety of races such as dirt races, late model asphalt and shifter kart road course events, which was used to add depth to his racing skills. John Bickford (Jeff Gordon's stepdad and mentor) recommended that Lagasse find a way into the ASA Touring Series where drivers Rusty Wallace, Mark Martin and Darrell Waltrip honed their skills before getting a break into NASCAR.

In 2003, Lagasse stepped up into the ASA (American Speed Association) Series on a six race limited schedule, finishing his first race of the season in 4th place. He completed the season with four top 10 and two top 5 finishes. Sponsor shortage in 2004 dashed Lagasse’s hopes for contending for ASA Rookie honors. The team was able to run six races of the twenty. Lagasse picked up where he left off in 2003 with three top 10 and three top 5 finishes including a pole at IRP and a win at Kentucky Int’l Speedway.

In the summer of 2004, Lagasse signed with Ganassi Racing following an invitation from Lorin Ranier (son of team owner Harry Rainer). Lorin’s has been credited with recognizing and developing talent such as Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson, and Reed Sorenson.

Lagasse made his Busch debut at Phoenix in 2005. He started that race in 33rd position and finished 40th, driving the #40 for FitzBradshaw Racing. He only managed a best finish of 22nd at Milwaukee Mile and a best start of 18th at Dover International Speedway. Originally scheduled to run the Busch Series for Chip Ganassi Racing in 2006, CGR's lack of sponsorship caused Dodge to ask Bobby Hamilton to add a third Truck for a partial schedule for Lagasse to gain some experience.

Lagasse Jr. was expected to run the majority of the races for the #04 Dodge in 2006 for Bobby Hamilton Racing. Kevin Hamlin and David Stremme both made starts in the truck so that they could get seat time. Lagasse made ten races before BHR sponsorship troubles forced him out of the ride. His best finish was 18th at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Lagasse spent 2007 driving two races for Ganassi Racing in the #41 Wrigley's Juicy Fruit car in the Busch Series, posting two top-fifteen qualifying efforts but failing to finish higher than 34th. He also drove one Truck race for Xpress Motorsports at Dover, finishing twenty-first. He signed to drive the #20 Ford for JTG Racing in the Truck Series in 2008, with sponsorship from The Nicholson Group, but the team closed midway through the season. He remained unemployed until late that season, when he joined CJM Racing. He raced for them in 2009 until he was released after Iowa. He drove the #43 (formerly #37) for Baker Curb Racing in 2010 for a limited schedule.

In 2012 Lagasse returned to the Nationwide Series on a limited schedule towards the end of the season, sponsored by Hybrid Light and The Boy Scouts of America ; this was planned to lead into a full 2013 season in the series through an alliance with Tommy Baldwin Racing.