Scott Lagasse Honored by Boy Scout Partnership
Scott Lagasse has honed his skills from ARCA racing to the NASCAR Nationwide Series. But he is most proud of his new relationship with the Boy Scouts of America as sponsor and partner.
“The relationship with them is pretty unique,” Lagasse said. “It started when I did a pine wood derby race and thought that was pretty cool.”
“We started talking and it ended up at national,” Lagasse continued. “What a great organization.”
“The Scouts do so many great things for kids, instilling morals and values,” Lagasse said. “It was a strange and unplanned relationship, but really a great one.”
Lagasse, a Boy Scout himself, has been most enthused about the impact of the partnership that he has experienced first-hand through a variety of Scouting events.
“We’ve already seen the excitement with the kids,” Lagasse said. “We went to an event at Fort Knox, Kentucky and there were 8,000 kids there that absolutely went crazy and loved the race car.”
“It’s fun for me because we drove a Scout to school this morning,” Lagasse continued. “We’ve done that a couple times now.”
“We went through Orlando with a police escort, spinning the rear tires and pulling up to the front of the school with all the kids out front,” Lagasse said. “It was great.”
“I don’t know if I had more fun, he had more fun or his parents had more fun.”
Lagasse is not the first driver to have a sponsor partnership with a charitable organization, proudly following in the steps of one of his racing idols, Jeff Gordon, whose sponsor is the AARP Foundation’s Drive to End Hunger.
So, it may not be coincidence that Gordon’s step-father John Bickford has also been a friend, mentor and advisor to Lagasse throughout the years.
“Without a doubt you always look up to a driver like Jeff Gordon,” Lagasse said. “Obviously for Mr. Bickford to spend the time with me that he has, I guess I would consider myself a charity case.”
“I don’t know that it was his idea about the charitable partnership, but he definitely has molded the way that I think and approach the sport,” Lagasse continued. “There’s no doubt that he is the leading person pushing me to do a business plan that makes sense.”
“In that regard, Mr. Bickford has been a huge ally and asset,” Lagasse said. “You definitely have to respect what he has done for the sport.”
Lagasse, mirroring the values of the Boy Scouts, also credits his family, particularly his father Scott Lagasse Sr., a racer in his own right, with supporting him in his racing journey.
“I couldn’t ask for my parents to do anything more for me,” Lagasse said. “They both realize the commitment and how much it takes to be successful.”
“They were always there to support me and that to me means a lot.”
In addition to the support of his family, Lagasse is also grateful for the camaraderie, commitment and support of his team. This too mirrors the values of Scouting in creating teamwork and a shared community.
“I’m really excited about the group of guys that we have, especially my crew chief Brad Parrott,” Lagasse said. “Brad came and crew chiefed an ARCA race for me.”
“He was a huge help and we led a lot of laps until we ran out of gas,” Lagasse continued. “It was not his doing but I still give him a hard time about it.”
“That’s obviously a good way to have started the relationship,” Lagasse said. “Since then we have worked together quite a few times.”
“That’s what motivates me, knowing that we’re all going to battle together,” Lagasse continued. “The most fun will be on race day when we strap in with that group of guys around me and the support of the Scouts.”
Lagasse is also looking forward to race day right at his home track, having grown up in St. Augustine, Florida and racing as a youngster in the shadows of Daytona International Speedway. And the 31 year old driver, now with his own team, cannot wait to take the track for the DRIVE4COPD 300 Nationwide race behind the wheel of his No. 8 HybridLight/Boy Scouts of America Chevrolet.
“This is for sure home and I’ve always had dreams of racing here,” Lagasse said. “Our goals are probably in stages.”
“Number one is to get out of here in one piece,” Lagasse said. “That one, we will accomplish.”
“Beyond that, we need to have a good partner to have a shot at the win,” Lagasse continued. “That’s how I’m going to approach it.”
“We’ll do what we need to do early to be there late,” Lagasse said. “We’re a small team and we know we’re up against the big boys.”
“But we have good people so I don’t see why we can’t run up front.”
Most of all for Lagasse, the Daytona race is all about being honored to represent the Boy Scouts and get the youth leadership of today interested in racing for the rest of their lives.
“I would say for me it’s a huge responsibility to partner with the Boy Scouts,” Lagasse said. “That’s how I look at it.”
“It’s a huge honor that also comes with a huge responsibility,” Lagasse continued. “Our relationship is very young but we’re both committed to the long term.”
“I’m excited about helping young kids develop on and off the track,” Lagasse said. “For us, it’s a shared responsibility and an honor to be that rallying point for them.”
“To me, that’s the best part about the Scouts because time and time again, they do the right thing.”
Rating the Race – The Duels at Daytona
Why I watched…
These twin races were to determine which cars made the Daytona 500 and who did not. Only the front pole sitters, the best six from last season, the best four qualifying times not already in, and former champion Kurt Busch were locked in. The rest had to go, had to make the moves, had to…
Who am I kidding? From what we saw in qualifying it would have taken a miracle for Brian Keselowski to make the race. Going in, I doubted we would even notice him out there after five laps and owner’s points would not save him. That left just one more who was going to head home empty. Mike Bliss would have been advised to be digging for a Top 16, as he was also most likely to adios amigo. Of course, wrecks or equipment failures could change that, but there was not much drama with only two going home early and two entries already looking pretty weak. The real reason I watched is because it was Daytona and promised to provide me with one hell of a good afternoon of entertainment.
The races…
Nothing unexpected. Brian K did not have a car good enough, and that was demonstrated early. Mind you, Carl Edwards and Trevor Bayne finished behind him in the opening race after Denny Hamlin wiggled and punched Carl into the fence, who then collected Bayne. In the second, Bliss was at the rear of the field all on his own, even trailing the ill-fated Ryan Newman.
To be honest, as much as SPEED’s Mike Joy tried to build up the drama, there was none. No one trying to make the race in the Duels had less points than the two who failed to make the grade. Once it became evident that neither of those cars would finish in the Top 16 in either race, the fat lady sang her song then moved on to make the big bucks as the next spokesperson for Weight Watchers.
Our pole duo did not lose anything. Danica Patrick faded back and then rode out the race observing the action before her. A speeding penalty left Jeff Gordon trying to play catch-up, yet both stayed out of trouble and will be at the front when it really matters; to start the Daytona 500.
Rating the race: 7/10…
I was not hitting the fast forward button but, like the cars on the track, I basically held my position. It was interesting, it was entertaining, but the “wow” factor will have to wait until the weekend. It was visually good to view, and like Jaws Waltrip I truly love the new gyro-cam, but without the drama it was just a solid few hours of television on a Thursday afternoon. After suffering through this week’s episode of the New Normal, to mention one example, I will take it. That was a half hour I’ll never get back.
Kyle Busch wins second Budweiser Duel at Daytona
Under a pit stop with 20 to go, Kyle Busch would take fuel only and have a solid pit stop to come off pit road in the lead. He would lead the rest of the way to win his first Budweiser Duel in four years. It also marks the second fastest Duel in NASCAR History with Busch completing the race with an average speed of 193.966 mph.
“It’s hard to pass the leader,” Busch said. “When you get out front, you can run pretty good. You just need to get out there and lead. There wasn’t enough lane-by-lane racing here, but you use the tools that you have once you figured it out and win.”
With 30 to go, Busch was running third in line and pulled out to try and make a move, however ended up falling back a couple positions.
“I tried to make a move,” he said. “I thought if I slide drafted off of the 31 (Jeff Burton) I could get back there. I knew I didn’t have much to lose since there were only two cars behind me. Coming on pit road, conserving the tires. That’s what won us the race there. dave made a great call getting no tires.”
Kasey Kahne tried to make a move on the last lap from the third position, however came up short finishing second.
“Maybe should have made my move a lap earlier cause that’s when I felt Austin pushing the most,” Kahne said. “I wanted to do it with two to go and see where we’d end up – but that’s a good run for the Farmers Insurance Chevrolet.”
Kahne says that if he could win his first Daytona 500 on Sunday, it would be amazing.
“We’ve gained a lot since the Sprint race on Saturday night to where we are at now and I feel if we gain a little more, we can be in the hunt,” he added.
Richard Childress’ grandson Austin Dillon finished third and will make his first Daytona 500 start on Sunday.
“That’s awesome,” Dillon said. “Got a little nervous before that. Just stayed in it the whole team, stayed right there with Kasey Kahne all race. Wanted to get a Chevrolet in the 500 but couldn’t get by Kyle there.”
Clint Bowyer finished fourth while Matt Kenseth rounded out the top five as he begins his first season with Joe Gibbs Racing.
“I feel like I’ve tried to do all the right things,” Kenseth said. “I saw the 5 (Kahne) coming, but I knew the outside was quicker so tried to stay out there with him and hoped the 15 (Bowyer) would get there at the last moment. But then the 15 made the move to the inside at the last minute. I should’ve made the move on the 18 (Busch) before the 5 could make the move on me. Guess I have to make my moves better.”
Mark Martin finished sixth, followed by Paul Menard, Jeff Burton, Jamie McMurray and David Regan.
Marcos Ambrose finished 11th with Jeff Gordon 12th. Gordon locked himself into the second starting spot for the Daytona 500 in qualifying last Sunday. Gordon led the first half of the Budweiser Duel, however suffered a pit road speeding penalty under the green flag stops. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Bobby Labonte also sufferd pit road speeding penalties.
Aric Almirola finished 13th, followed by Stenhouse Jr., Dave Blaney and Josh Wise.
“It’s awesome,” Wise said after qualifying for his first Daytona 500. “It’s a huge amount of stress lifted off our shoulders. We knew if we stayed out of trouble and ran our race we’d get the transfer there.”
Ryan Newman would suffer problems coming on to pit road as he would spin the car out, barely touching the outside wall, as the field came down pit road. He would blow out a tire, however made it back to pit road without further damage. There was no caution for the spin.
As a result of the Budweiser Duels, Mike Bliss and Brian Keselowski failed to make the Daytona 500.
Lap by Lap: Budweiser Duel Race No. 2 won by Kyle Busch
Kyle Busch would put himself in position after the final pit stop and take the victory in the second Budweiser Duel at Daytona International Speedway.
Duel Race No. 2 pole sitter Jeff Gordon elected to start on the outside.
Green flag
Lap 1 Newman and Gordon side-by-side for the lead through turns one and two as the whole field is two-by-two
Lap 2 Newman gets put in the sucker hole as Gordon pulls ahead while Kasey Kahne and Kyle Busch are side-by-side for second.
Lap 5 Gordon and Kyle Busch single-file while Stenhouse Jr. and Kahne side-by-side for third
Lap 12 Gordon Kahne Dillon Burton Busch Ambrose Kenseth Martin Menard McMurray as the field has gone single file
Lap 13 Mike Bliss needs to come to pit road due to his window net being down.
Lap 23 close call as Kenseth tries to block the run that Menard has on the bottom
Lap 25 top eight are single-file as Bowyer and Menard are side-by-side for ninth
30 to go Kyle Busch pulled down out of fourth, nobody went with him, he falls back through the pack to seventh.
29 to go Gordon Kahne Dillon Burton Ambrose Kenseth, Busch
27 to go Gordon Kahne Dillon Burton Ambrose Kenseth Busch Martin Menard lead a single file train ahead of the field
23 to go Travis Kvapil has lost the draft
22 to go Blaney, Wise and Yeley pit.
21 to go Bowyer passed Menard for ninth. Gordon Kahne McMurray and half of the field pit. Kenseth to the lead. Gordon too fast entering pit road. He will have to serve a penalty.
20 to go The other half of the field pit – Kenseth, Busch, Ambrose and more. Stenhouse and Labonte too fast exiting pit road.
19 to go Stenhouse and Gordon down pit road serving his penalty. Newman makes it back to pit road.
18 to go Busch leads Bowyer Kenseth Kahne Menard Martin Burton Dillon McMurray Regan
13 to go Busch leads Bowyer Kahne Menard Martin Burton Kenseth Dillon McMurray Regan
11 to go Menard kicks Kahne out of line, passing him for third. Kahne back to sixth.
10 to go Busch Bowyer Menard Martin Kenseth Kahne Dillon is the lead draft single-file
9 to go Kenseth gives Bowyer a shove, Bowyer goes for the run under Busch
8 to go Bowyer doesn’t clear so falls back to fifth.
7 to go Busch leads Kenseth Kahne Dillon Bowyer Martin are the lead pack. Kvapil goes a lap down, running 17th
6 to go Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Josh Wise go a lap down, currently running 15th and 16th.
FL turn one, Kasey Kahne and Dillon make a run underneath Kenseth, Busch down to block. Busch Kahne Dillon and Bowyer down the backstraight with Kenseth fifth.
Kyle Busch wins the Gatorade Duel. Kahne. Dillon, Bowyer, Kenseth, Martin, Menard, Burton, McMurray, Regan, Ambrose, Gordon, Almirola, Stenhouse Jr., Blaney, Wise.
