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| Scott Lagasse Jr. - More Focused Than Ever | by Mark Tessier
The 2003 racing season is just around the corner and
the Scott Lagasse Jr. Racing Team has had a busy
winter of preparation.
As late as December 2002, the Lagasse team planned to
spend 2003 competing on the Goodyear Challenge Tour,
a Late Model series in Florida.
But in December the team attended the Performance Racing
Industry show in Indianapolis. It was a great opportunity
to meet with suppliers and product sponsors while enjoy-
ing the country's largest gathering of racing manu-
facturers and retailers.
One of the scheduled meetings in Indy at the PRI show
was with John Bickford, Jeff Gordon's stepfather, mentor
and a wellp-respected member of racing's inner circle.
The lengthy meeting brought a new perspective to the
team.
John keeps a list of young talent to watch from around
the US that he shares with some NASCAR team owners.
Scott, Jr. is fortunate to be included on that list.
John's guidance in the past has been invaluable, but
the team's ability to fund the necessary steps has
been limited.
"You have to run in a professional series if you are
going to make the move to the upper ranks of stock car
racing," Bickford advised. "Winning late model races
is great; it proves you have the ability and potential
and it gives you valuable experience. NASCAR team
owners know who you are and may have interest, but you
have to be racing at a higher level to get serious
consideration. You need to take a hard look at the ASA
(American Speed Association) Series and do whatever it
takes to make the step," he said.
Joh's recommendation of the ASA Series was based on
several factors. Under the new ownership of Steve Dale;
all ASA races will be broadcast live on Saturday night
at nine p.m. on the Speed Channel. That alone is ex-
pected to generate interest from Winston Cup team owners
looking for new talent from the ASA Series.
With no sponsorship currently in hand, the team should
realistically be looking to prepare for the ASA 2004
season. Instead, though, the Lagasse team has chosen
to move forward in an effort to begin the building
process.
The goals are:
1) to be ready for the first race March 22 at Lakeland;
2) to focus more on marketing and acquiring marketing
partners
3) to be prepared to race as many as 7 key events during
the season (depending on sponsorship) in preparation for
the 2004 season.
Within a week of returning from the PRI show, the team
acquired a second, already proven ASA car from the 2002
championship team. Preparation and marketing efforts
have intensified.
"It's the chicen or the egg scenario. We can't compete
with a sponsor but it's difficult, at best, to sign a
sponsor if you're not in the game," stated a determined
Scott Lagasse, Sr. "We are doing everything we know to
do to build this program."
"We are realistic about what it takes and are giving
it 110%," Lagasse continued. "Sometimes you just have
to bite off more than you can chew and then chew it
anyway! This is really preparation for the 2004 season.
The team will be ready for the first race at Lakeland
to the best of our ability, given available resources."
Scott Jr.'s determination and will to succeed is
contagious. "You can't be around him and say 'No'.
His work ethic, discipline and desire at age 21 are
motivating," states Lagasse, Sr. "I was hoping to live
a little more , working 10 to 12 hour days
at business interests. But I guess it's back to 14
and 16 hours, 7 days a week. Scotty is determined to
succeed in racing, with or without my help. I know how
tough the challenge is. I can't let him do it alone."
"My hope is our efforts will help him reach his goals,"
says Scott Sr. "Scotty continues to perform well in
college. He's taking 18 credit-hours this semester and
staying on the Dean's List. At the same time, he's
working intensely on the race program. He's clean cut,
personable, educated, well spoken and just the kind of
kid you want to help. I'm sure there's a marketing
partner out there that would benefit from a relation-
ship with him."
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