{"version":"1.0.0","episode":{"title":"Scott Speed: Red Bull, F1, and Why He Left the Driver's Seat","url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/scott-speed-red-bull-f1-and-why-he-left-the-driver-s-seat","audioUrl":"https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/sxm.simplecastaudio.com/8402ddef-50ff-4346-b787-d6640c0d98d2/episodes/e507bead-50d5-4383-8572-6871f1cb1df9/audio/128/default.mp3?aid=rss_feed&awCollectionId=8402ddef-50ff-4346-b787-d6640c0d98d2&awEpisodeId=e507bead-50d5-4383-8572-6871f1cb1df9&feed=xHwJAwNo","description":"If you’re a motorsports fan, you’ve probably heard the name Scott Speed. From his journey through Formula 1, ARCA, NASCAR, and Rallycross as part of the Red Bull family, the three-time X Games gold medalist has sure done it all. On this week's episode, Dale Jr. sat down with the former Formula 1 racer to learn about his career journey. Though Dale and Scott shared the track for many years, they never got the chance to sit down and chat. Today, that changes. What spawned from a love of racing video games and an admiration for his father's own career quickly grew into national go-kart success and a call from Red Bull. Scott was quickly thrust into the Formula One pipeline, moving overseas and becoming Red Bull’s test driver for F1 as a teenager. Scott became the first American to compete in F1 since Michael Andretti.\nA career as a teammate to Sebastian Vettel quickly disappeared after a rainy wreck at the Nürburgring and a heated exchange with the team boss. Scott's career took a sharp turn back to America, where he joined the NASCAR circuit, winning multiple races in lower series before going full-time in the Cup Series in 2009. Though Scott's stint in NASCAR was short-lived, he opens up to Dale about how a broken back in a Rallycross race introduced a new career opportunity with former NASCAR driver Josh Wise – taking Scott out of the seat altogether for a role he never expected.\nArby’s Meat & 3 box is available for a limited time at participating locations while supplies last. Prices may vary. Get your Meat & 3 box at an Arby's near you today.\nSubscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DirtyMoMedia\nCheck out our merch collection: https://shop.dirtymomedia.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising."},"annotations":[{"startTime":156.24,"endTime":161.5,"type":"brand","title":"Chevrolet","url":"/glossary/chevrolet","quote":"They work predominantly with Chevrolet drivers to coach them up, make them athletes, make them great at reaction time, teach them how to be grown adults,","canonicalId":"brand:chevrolet","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Chevrolet is a major American automaker (a GM brand) and a key name in NASCAR. In this context, the coaching program is working specifically with Chevrolet drivers, which matters because NASCAR teams and driver development pipelines often align with manufacturer-backed programs.","simplifiedExplanation":"Chevrolet is a car brand (part of GM). In racing, some driver programs focus on specific brands, like Chevrolet, because teams and sponsors are tied to them."}},{"startTime":191.5,"endTime":197.4,"type":"concept","title":"NASCAR","url":"/glossary/nascar","quote":"But before that, Scott raced in NASCAR, before that, ARCA, before that, he was in the F1 series and many, many other things before.","canonicalId":"concept:nascar","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"NASCAR is a stock-car racing series in the United States, known for oval track racing and a strong emphasis on driver consistency and race strategy. Mentioning Scott Speed’s NASCAR background helps frame the kind of driving skills he developed before moving to other series.","simplifiedExplanation":"NASCAR is a popular American racing series, mostly on oval tracks. Drivers have to be good at handling the car over long runs and racing wheel-to-wheel."}},{"startTime":270.0,"endTime":276.2,"type":"concept","title":"X Games","url":"/glossary/x-games","quote":"But three-time X Games, Raleigh Cross Gold Medalist, four-time Raleigh Cross champion. You've won other champions in other forms of motorsport.","canonicalId":"concept:x-games","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"X Games is an extreme sports competition run by ESPN that includes motorsport-style events like rallycross and karting-adjacent disciplines. When someone is described as a multi-time X Games champion, it signals they’ve competed at a high level in action-sports racing formats.","simplifiedExplanation":"X Games is a big TV event where athletes compete in extreme sports. If someone is an X Games champion, they’re really good at that kind of high-intensity competition."}},{"startTime":296.8,"endTime":322.1,"type":"term","title":"Go-Karts","url":"/glossary/go-karts","quote":"From three years old, I was going to the Go-Kart Track watching my dad race Go-Karts. And so I can't think of a memory before I saw racing... Yeah, he raced Go-Karts. And so he raced out of the garage and he was really good.","canonicalId":"term:go-karts","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Go-karts are small, low-cost racing vehicles that are commonly used as the first step in a motorsport career. Competing in karting helps drivers build fundamental skills—cornering technique, throttle control, and race starts—that transfer to higher categories.","simplifiedExplanation":"Go-karts are small race cars. A lot of racers start in them because they’re affordable and teach you the basics of driving in a competitive way."}},{"startTime":448.1,"endTime":451.3,"type":"concept","title":"national championship","url":"/glossary/national-championship","quote":"I raced that go kart for a year. I did really good. And the next year I ended up winning a national championship. So it happened really, really fast.","canonicalId":"concept:national-championship","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.85,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Winning a national championship in karting is a major credibility milestone because it proves speed and consistency against top competitors. It often attracts sponsors and team interest, which can materially change the resources available to a young driver.","simplifiedExplanation":"A national championship means you won at the highest level in your country for that age/class. Doing that can get you noticed and help you get sponsorships or better racing opportunities."}},{"startTime":454.0,"endTime":461.3,"type":"concept","title":"sponsored","url":"/glossary/sponsored","quote":"It was good in the sense that I then had the ability, I got sponsored from that, right? I started getting tires and go karts for free. And that allowed me to continue racing.","canonicalId":"concept:sponsored","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"In motorsport, sponsorship typically means companies provide financial support or equipment in exchange for branding and visibility. For young drivers, sponsorship can be the difference between continuing to race and having to stop due to costs.","simplifiedExplanation":"Being sponsored means a company helps pay for racing or gives you gear. In racing, that support can be huge because racing can get expensive fast."}},{"startTime":554.4,"endTime":559.5,"type":"company","title":"Red Bull","url":"/glossary/red-bull","quote":"And there was always some kind of programs around. [567.3s] I'm thinking Skip Barber, Jim Russell, where, hey, you win a chance to do the driving school here in the race car. [574.7s] here in the race car. [575.7s] And I would do that. [576.5s] When you hear about those things, you wonder now, you know, my... [581.6s] Those type of things don't happen in the oval pipeline, right? [585.1s] Where you, man, if you win these series of races, that gets you the scholarship to do X or gets you the opportunity in this ride, in this series. [589.8s] opportunity was when Red Bull called and said, hey, we're going to do this Red Bull American driver search.","canonicalId":"company:red-bull","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Red Bull is a major motorsport sponsor and organizer of driver development programs. In this context, “Red Bull American driver search” is an example of a brand-backed pathway meant to identify and fund emerging talent.","simplifiedExplanation":"Red Bull is a big sponsor in racing. Here, they’re talking about a program they ran to find and support up-and-coming drivers."}},{"startTime":569.2,"endTime":574.7,"type":"company","title":"Skip Barber","url":"/glossary/skip-barber","quote":"[567.3s] And there was always some kind of programs around. [569.2s] I'm thinking Skip Barber, Jim Russell, where, hey, you win a chance to do the driving school here in the race car. [574.7s] here in the race car.","canonicalId":"company:skip-barber","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.85,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Skip Barber is a well-known motorsport training and racing school brand in the U.S. The speaker references it as a scholarship-style route where winning can earn a chance to attend driving school in a race car.","simplifiedExplanation":"Skip Barber is a racing school. People can win opportunities or scholarships to go learn how to drive faster and more safely in race cars."}},{"startTime":926.8,"endTime":933.0,"type":"concept","title":"open-wheel road racing","url":"/glossary/open-wheel-road-racing","quote":"it was like that for the open-wheel road racing side of things here.","canonicalId":"concept:open-wheel-road-racing","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.85,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Open-wheel road racing refers to formula-style cars (wheels outside the bodywork) competing on road courses rather than ovals. Speed contrasts the talent depth and competitiveness of Europe’s open-wheel ladder with what he experienced racing in America.","simplifiedExplanation":"Open-wheel road racing is the kind of racing where the cars look like formula cars and race on road courses. He’s saying Europe has a lot more top young drivers pushing each other."}},{"startTime":937.0,"endTime":939.0,"type":"concept","title":"go-karting","url":"/glossary/go-karting","quote":"right out of go-karting, it was the level wasn't even on the same planet","canonicalId":"concept:go-karting","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Go-karting is the common entry point for many professional racers, teaching car control, racecraft, and consistency at a young age. Speed references it as the starting point for his early ladder in the U.S.","simplifiedExplanation":"Go-karting is usually where future race drivers begin. It helps them learn how to drive fast and race against others before moving into bigger cars."}},{"startTime":1000.6,"endTime":1014.7,"type":"concept","title":"F1","url":"/glossary/f1","quote":"...you think that going over to Europe and racing in open-wheel cars or an F1, like that's just too hard, we can't do that.","canonicalId":"concept:f1","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"“F1” refers to Formula 1, the top level of open-wheel racing run primarily in Europe. It’s known for highly specialized cars, intense competition, and a steep learning curve for drivers coming from other racing series.","simplifiedExplanation":"“F1” is short for Formula 1, the highest level of open-wheel race car competition. The cars are very specialized, and it can be a big jump if you’re coming from a different kind of racing."}},{"startTime":1145.1,"endTime":1149.5,"type":"concept","title":"F1 test","url":"/glossary/f1-test","quote":"The big moment came when I got the call to do the F1 test. And so, you know, I just got the GP2.","canonicalId":"concept:f1-test","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.84,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"An “F1 test” is a structured driving session where a driver evaluates an F1 car as part of development or preparation. It’s a key step for drivers transitioning into the F1 environment."}},{"startTime":1286.8,"endTime":1294.7,"type":"concept","title":"onboard","url":"/glossary/onboard","quote":"I remember specifically being in the hotel room the night before,\nand I'm watching the onboard of Christian Clean in the car I'm about to drive.","canonicalId":"concept:onboard","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.85,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"“Onboard” refers to onboard camera footage from the driver’s perspective, used to study braking points, cornering lines, and throttle/brake timing. The speaker uses it as a learning tool before his own test."}},{"startTime":1337.8,"endTime":1339.0,"type":"concept","title":"F1 car","url":"/glossary/f1-car","quote":"And as soon as we all got in the F1 car and the grip level went that next 30%.","canonicalId":"concept:f1-car","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"“F1 car” refers to a Formula 1 race car, which is purpose-built for high downforce, high grip, and extreme cornering loads. In F1, drivers work within tight traction limits, so small changes in grip and setup can dramatically affect lap time.","simplifiedExplanation":"An “F1 car” is a super specialized race car used in Formula 1. It’s designed to stick to the track at very high speeds, so the tires and aerodynamics matter a lot for how fast you can go."}},{"startTime":1505.6,"endTime":1515.0,"type":"concept","title":"communication skills","url":"/glossary/communication-skills","quote":"Well, what? I mean, looking back, I think, man, just, I think the, the core piece of it just starts how I thought about racing in general. I had no, I had no communication skills.","canonicalId":"concept:communication-skills","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.85,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"In F1, communication skills are crucial because drivers must translate feel into actionable feedback for engineers. That feedback helps refine setup (like balance and traction characteristics) and improve performance quickly over a race weekend.","simplifiedExplanation":"F1 teams rely on the driver to tell engineers what the car feels like. Good communication helps the team make the right changes so the car drives better."}},{"startTime":1528.0,"endTime":1560.0,"type":"concept","title":"Formula One","url":"/glossary/formula-one","quote":"And so the other really difficult thing about Formula One and the thing that was really hard for me was for the first time, you're not in the same cars as everybody.","canonicalId":"concept:formula-one","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Formula One (F1) is the top tier of open-wheel racing, where teams build and develop their own cars and drivers compete in a season of races. A key feature is that cars can differ significantly in performance, so “winning” can depend heavily on the car you’re assigned as well as driver skill.","simplifiedExplanation":"Formula One is the highest level of open-wheel race car racing. In F1, different teams use different cars, so sometimes the car itself makes a huge difference in how well you can do."}},{"startTime":1588.4,"endTime":1593.4,"type":"concept","title":"finish a lap down","url":"/glossary/finish-a-lap-down","quote":"But back when I was like, we were going to finish a lap down almost no matter who you put in that car.","canonicalId":"concept:finish-a-lap-down","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.85,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"“Finishing a lap down” means the car is one full circuit behind the race leader (or behind the pace of the cars it’s compared to). In eras where the performance gap between F1 cars is huge, even a strong driver can end up routinely losing laps due to the car’s limitations.","simplifiedExplanation":"“A lap down” means you’re behind by one full lap compared to the front of the race. If your car is much slower, you can end up losing laps even if you’re driving well."}},{"startTime":2014.2,"endTime":2020.2,"type":"car","title":"Ferrari","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f2/Ferrari-Monaco-4071008.jpg","quote":"...if I was running fifth or 10th or winning in a Ferrari, in my mind, like I was just, I only got to race one guy...","canonicalId":"car:ferrari","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.86,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Ferrari is one of F1’s most iconic teams and car manufacturers, known for competing at the front when their package is strong. In this context, “winning in a Ferrari” highlights how team and car performance can shape what a driver believes they can personally influence.","simplifiedExplanation":"Ferrari is a famous racing team in Formula One. Here, it’s used as an example of a top-performing car where the driver’s results may feel tied to the team’s overall strength.","imageAttribution":"ermell (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":2167.8,"endTime":2178.0,"type":"concept","title":"wet","url":"/glossary/wet","quote":"Our car, the Torroso car was outrageous in the wet. [2170.6s] Earlier that year in Monaco, I was actually P1 in practice in the wet, in the rain, [2174.6s] in pre, in pre-practice one.","canonicalId":"concept:wet","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.85,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"“Wet” refers to racing on a rain-soaked track, which changes traction, braking distances, and how cars behave through corners. In F1, wet performance can be very car- and setup-dependent, which is why drivers often talk about how good (or bad) their car is in the rain.","simplifiedExplanation":"“Wet” means the track is covered in rain. Rain changes how the tires grip, so braking and cornering feel very different."}},{"startTime":2170.6,"endTime":2174.6,"type":"concept","title":"Monaco","url":"/glossary/monaco","quote":"Earlier that year in Monaco, I was actually P1 in practice in the wet, in the rain, [2174.6s] in pre, in pre-practice one.","canonicalId":"concept:monaco","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Monaco refers to the Circuit de Monaco, one of the most iconic F1 tracks. It’s known for tight corners and limited overtaking, so rain can dramatically affect strategy and results.","simplifiedExplanation":"Monaco is a famous F1 race track. It’s very twisty and hard to pass on, and rain can make it even more unpredictable."}},{"startTime":2188.4,"endTime":2192.9,"type":"concept","title":"pits","url":"/glossary/pits","quote":"Me and Tonyo drive from 17th and 18th to, I think I came in the pits, 11th, [2192.9s] after three quarters of a lap.","canonicalId":"concept:pits","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.85,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"“Pits” refers to the pit lane and pit stops, where teams change tires and adjust strategy during a race. In wet-to-dry or rapidly changing weather, pit timing can be a major factor in gaining or losing positions.","simplifiedExplanation":"The pits are where the team stops the car to do things like change tires. When weather changes, stopping at the right time can help you move up."}},{"startTime":2198.3,"endTime":2201.4,"type":"term","title":"pit road","url":"/glossary/pit-road","quote":"And I passed Tonyo in the last section coming to pit road. And so in F1, you can only pit one car at a time.","canonicalId":"term:pit-road","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.85,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Pit road is the dedicated lane where F1 teams enter to service cars during a pit stop. It’s governed by strict speed limits and procedures, so the timing of when you enter and how you line up matters for safety and race strategy.","simplifiedExplanation":"Pit road is the special lane where race cars go in to get serviced. You can’t just drive fast there—there are rules, and it affects your race timing."}},{"startTime":2373.9,"endTime":2386.0,"type":"concept","title":"DTM","url":"/glossary/dtm","quote":"The easy solution would have been to do like DTM or like sports car racing. DTM was cool.","canonicalId":"concept:dtm","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.85,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters) is a touring car racing series in Germany that features production-based race cars. It’s often considered a strong alternative to open-wheel racing because it emphasizes car control, tire management, and close racing.","simplifiedExplanation":"DTM is a high-level touring car series in Germany. It’s a different style of racing than F1, but it’s still very competitive."}},{"startTime":2662.3,"endTime":2666.9,"type":"concept","title":"primary car to the backup car","quote":"[2662.3s]  the F1 car, when you go from the primary car to the backup car.\n[2665.4s]  The identical.\n[2665.9s]  You don't know the difference.\n[2666.9s]  Yeah.","canonicalId":"concept:primary-car-to-the-backup-car","priority":0.2,"confidence":0.65,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"In F1, teams typically have a primary car and a backup car for each driver to reduce downtime after damage or mechanical issues. The speaker’s point is that these cars are engineered to be effectively interchangeable, so a driver shouldn’t feel a major difference when switching."}},{"startTime":2860.9,"endTime":2866.3,"type":"concept","title":"truck series","url":"/glossary/truck-series","quote":"Well, I, I remember you would run the truck series a little bit.\n[2866.3s]  You'd obviously get an opportunity to go up and, and, and make your cup series debut","canonicalId":"concept:truck-series","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.85,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"The NASCAR Truck Series is one of NASCAR’s national touring series, featuring pickup trucks and serving as a common stepping stone for drivers aiming to reach the top NASCAR Cup Series. Drivers often build experience with race strategy and car control in this series before moving up."}},{"startTime":2876.5,"endTime":2885.0,"type":"concept","title":"rookie of the year","url":"/glossary/rookie-of-the-year","quote":"[2876.5s]  You have a full time schedule in 09, rookie of the year.\n[2885.0s]  You also ran in the rally series with Michael Waldrop.","canonicalId":"concept:rookie-of-the-year","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.85,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Rookie of the Year is an award given to the top-performing first-year driver in a series. It’s a way to measure how well a newcomer adapts to the competition, race pace, and team environment over a season.","simplifiedExplanation":"Rookie of the Year is an award for the best first-year driver. It recognizes who does the best job adjusting to racing at that level."}},{"startTime":2993.8,"endTime":3025.5,"type":"concept","title":"driver development","url":"/glossary/driver-development","quote":"for the last five or six years I've been working with Josh on this, on, on developing drivers... I enjoy much more helping and impacting people than I ever did trying to win a trophy for myself.","canonicalId":"concept:driver-development","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.85,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Driver development is the structured process of coaching and training drivers to improve performance, decision-making, and consistency. In motorsport, it often includes feedback loops from data, on-track coaching, and mental/strategy work.","simplifiedExplanation":"Driver development is coaching drivers so they get better over time. It’s not just teaching speed—it’s helping them make better choices and stay consistent."}},{"startTime":3214.5,"endTime":3223.54,"type":"concept","title":"break my back","url":"/glossary/break-my-back","quote":"I break my back at a rally cross race and so I can drive. So my dad and my brother still have a really successful national carding team.","canonicalId":"concept:break-my-back","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.88,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"A “broken back” is a serious injury that can end or permanently change a driver’s ability to race. The speaker links it directly to their ability to drive, highlighting how motorsport injuries can have long-term career consequences."}},{"startTime":4296.0,"endTime":4312.7,"type":"concept","title":"resilience","url":"/glossary/resilience","quote":"[4296.0s] Um, so I think, yeah, making things challenging and making things hard is an important piece of, of building some resilience and building the, the confidence in the person that, [4306.3s] hey, I just did this really hard drill this week.","canonicalId":"concept:resilience","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Resilience is the ability to keep performing when things get difficult—like struggling through a hard drill and not quitting. In racing, that mindset matters because practice and competition both involve setbacks and mistakes.","simplifiedExplanation":"Resilience just means you can handle hard moments without giving up. In racing, you’ll mess up sometimes, so being able to bounce back is a big deal."}},{"startTime":4301.8,"endTime":4312.7,"type":"concept","title":"confidence","url":"/glossary/confidence","quote":"[4301.8s] of building some resilience and building the, the confidence in the person that, [4306.3s] hey, I just did this really hard drill this week. [4312.7s] Now I'm getting in my race car this weekend and it's all going pretty easy, like no problem.","canonicalId":"concept:confidence","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.85,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Confidence here is the psychological payoff from completing difficult practice and then applying it in competition. For drivers, confidence can translate into calmer decision-making and better execution under pressure."}}],"speakers":[{"id":"s1","name":"Dirty Mo Media","role":"host"},{"id":"s2","name":"SiriusXM","role":"host"}],"transcripts":[{"url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/scott-speed-red-bull-f1-and-why-he-left-the-driver-s-seat/transcript.vtt","type":"text/vtt"}]}