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 Merely,
three years ago Scott Lagasse, Jr. was testing his ASA Series car at the Music
City Motorplex in Nashville, Tennessee gearing up for one of his many ASA Series
races. Ironically NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Bobby Hamilton and his
son NASCAR Veteran Bobby Hamilton Jr. were there for a sponsor commitment. It
was a chance encounter Lagasse would never forget.
“I remember I was having trouble with the bump in turn four,” Lagasse said.
“Bobby is the king of that place so I decided to walk over and ask for advice. I
was a little bit intimidated because of who he was and Bobby Jr. was a star in
the Busch series. I was worried about bothering them, but Bobby was the nicest
guy. He immediately put me at ease and gave me some great pointers.”
Fast forward to the year 2006 and Lagasse has been given the opportunity of a
lifetime to drive none other than Bobby Hamilton’s third NCTS entry. It is a
dream come true for Lagasse and one Hamilton wants to see succeed.
“I really enjoy developing drivers for Dodge and for NASCAR,” Hamilton said. “It
is fun for me to put time and energy into someone else and see them perform. The
average age for drivers these days is just getting younger which puts them in a
position to mature faster. I like to think my time in the sport can help them
have a head start on what is on the horizon.”
Though Lagasse will be a rookie entering the 2006 season he is no stranger to
racing and victory lane. The son of early 1990’s stand out Scott Lagasse Sr. was
raised around the race track for as long as the young lad can remember. He was
just young boy when he received his first three-wheeler, which he rode around at
the track where his father was racing. This led Lagasse Jr. to his next endeavor
motocross racing and then on to karting.
The St. Augustine, Florida native burst onto the racing scene in 1998 when he
won the first ever race he entered by sitting on the pole and leading the most
laps in a modified car. Over the next three years he competed in 43 late model
events pulling into victory lane 24 times and finishing in the top three 23
times, a very impressive statistic.
In 2003, he made the step up to the ASA racing series and immediately turned
heads. He competed in six races and finished in the top five twice and top 10
four times. He continued in 2004 and proved to be a contender winning at
Kentucky Speedway which caught the eye of Chip Ganassi. Lagasse’s contract with
Ganassi landed him at the door of fellow Dodge competitor Bobby Hamilton who
formed an alliance with Ganassi taking Lagasse as his rookie driver for the No.
04 Dodge Motorsports Dodge.
Lagasse has proven himself a winner on many racing circuits, but now is
presented with the challenge of one of NASCAR’s elite series – a task he is
ready to conquer.
“This season is all about challenges,” Lagasse said. “I have never even been in
a truck before this year. I am working with a new team, new crew chiefs, new pit
crew and competing on several new tracks around the country. But challenges make
you stronger and I am confident my team and I are up for daunting task ahead.”
Career Accomplishments:
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Competed in five NASCAR Busch Races in 2005 for FitzBradshaw
Racing.
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Continued racing in the ASA series in 2004 winning at Kentucky
Speedway.
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In 2003, made the move to the ASA series competing in six
races. Finishing in the top five twice and top-10 four times.
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Posted 11 first place finished out of 15 races on his way to
winning the 2001 Late Model Championship at St. Augustine Speedway.
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Also, in 2000 won 5 out of the 12 races he entered and
finished in the top three in nine of them and started from the pole seven
times.
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In 1999, secured eight race wins and finished in the top three
14 out of 16 races. Holds track record in top three divisions at St.
Augustine Speedway.
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In 1998, won the first race car event he entered in Florida in
a modified.
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Won Karting Championship in 1997
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