On this week’s episode of the award-winning “Listen In With KNN,” host and executive producer Kelsey Nicole Nelson welcomed one of NASCAR’s brightest rising stars, Lavar Scott, to talk about his racing journey, his roots, and his successful NASCAR Xfinity Series debut on July 19th, at Dover Motor Speedway where he placed 28th out of 38 racers.
Scott, 21, piloted the No. 45 Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet in the BetRivers 200 – a major career milestone just months after earning 2024 ARCA Menards Series Rookie of the Year honors.
“Yes, it’s pretty insane, I’m racing in an Xfinity car, #45,” Scott told Nelson prior to the race. “This is something that I’ve been praying, working hard towards, and dreaming about for a long time now, years to be honest … it’s my home race, my friends and family are going to be there. I love it, I cannot wait to get there.”
Scott’s path to the Xfinity Series is an untraditional one, but it’s one deeply rooted in family. His mother was a drag racer, and the family spent weekends at the track supporting various relatives who also raced. When his older brother began racing, Scott followed closely behind.
“Really, I just grew up in a racing family,” he said. “We were always at the race track every single weekend supporting them… I wanted to follow in his footsteps.”
That family foundation helped prepare Scott for a pivotal moment in 2015 when he raced in the Tulsa Shootout at just 12-years-old.
“It kind of feels like how I’m feeling this weekend,” he said, reflecting on his nerves at the time, just days prior to Delaware’s race weekend. “The Tulsa Shootout is definitely the hardest dirt race there is… I really got thrown into the wolves.”
Since then, the New Jersey native has methodically climbed the racing ranks. Starting in Rev Racing’s youth development program, he moved from Legend Cars to Late Models to the ARCA Menards Series, where he drove the No. 6 Max Siegel Chevrolet to multiple podium finishes, including second-place results at Elko and Berlin Raceways. He finished the season second in overall points.
“It was a mixed feeling because last year I set out to become ARCA champion,” he said. “I was definitely really happy, but I’m a competitor, I want to win. I really need the ARCA championship spot.”
Preparation for his Xfinity debut has been intense; from simulation work to race footage study, to team strategy sessions.
“I’ve been watching footage, different clips every single night,” Scott said. “I’ve been at the shop every single day, talking with the crew chief trying to mesh with him. I’m just trying to have all fronts covered.”
While he respects the field of Xfinity competitors, Scott isn’t overwhelmed.
“They’re all really good drivers,” he said. “But none particularly outdoes the other.”
Off the track, Scott has learned to navigate the sport’s business side, including media, sponsorships, and networking, a skillset he credits to his time at Rev Racing.
“I think Rev has a great running system on how to teach a developing driver,” he said. “It’s something I started at the bottom, and now I’m obviously at the top of the program. It’s definitely been a huge blessing in my life and my career.”
When asked what his proudest moment to date would be Scott said, “Probably joining Rev and each year going to something bigger and better. But – my first-ever Daytona start in the ARCA car, that’s definitely a feeling and a memory that will live with me for the rest of my life.”
As one of the sport’s few Black drivers, Scott acknowledges there have been challenges, but says the NASCAR community has largely embraced him.
“It means everything to me, this sport has been so welcoming,” he said. “I feel like the bigger things I do just allow me to be me … I’ve had the fans who want to say stuff and stare at you and make faces, but that’s gonna come with it. But all of NASCAR and ARCA have been super great people.”
He also wants to shift public perception about who belongs in racing.
“People think it’s a sport for one gender and one race, and I think that’s not it anymore,” he said. “In recent years, NASCAR’s been opening and welcoming to every single fan… that’s the biggest misconception I want to change.”
Looking ahead, Scott saw the weekend’s Xfinity debut as a launching point – not a finish line.
“First, have a really successful weekend, learn, adapt, and build on that,” he said. “This weekend is super important for me to prove something.”
When asked who his biggest inspirations were, Scott named drivers Ross Chastain and Kyle Larson.
“Ross is someone I’ve grown really close to … he helps me out so much,” Scott said. “Kyle comes from a dirt background, and watching his trajectory … using the same exact car I’m in now, same team – it’s pretty crazy to think that I’m in the position that he was, and look what he’s doing now.”
Fans can follow Lavar Scott on Instagram at @lavar.scott34 and visit lavarscott.com for upcoming ticket packages, which include a fan section.
For the full conversation, listen to the episode of Listen In With KNN below.
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