Champion Owner: Harry Scott Jr.
Receives Early Returns On K&N Pro Series East Investment
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – First season, first championship. Not a bad way to start for Harry Scott Jr. and Turner Scott Motorsports in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East.
With a racing program that was put together less than three months prior to the start of the 2013 season, team co-owner Scott looks back on the success of the organization as a whole and is blown away. A championship with TSM’s No. 98 entry driven by Dylan Kwasniewski far exceeded expectations.
“That championship is pretty special on a number of levels,” Scott said. “When we started this operation about a year ago at this time, the shop was just a shell, it didn’t have anything in it. We didn’t have any drivers signed.
“We really started from scratch, and didn’t get going until after the holidays,” Scott said. “So for Mike Greci (director of competition), Mardy Lindley (Kwasniewski’s crew chief) and all of those guys to be as competitive as we were this year – let alone go out and win a championship – is amazing to me.”
It has been a quick ascension in the world of NASCAR racing for Scott, who originally hails from Raleigh, N.C., but has resided for the last 15-plus years in Hilton Head, S.C. Scott says he’s always been interested in racing as a fan, but officially got involved in the sport for the first time in 2009 as a NASCAR Nationwide Series car sponsor with one of his companies – AccuDoc Solutions – with Braun Racing. The following season he became co-owner of Braun’s No. 11 car with driver Brian Scott.
Scott’s NASCAR involvement has continued to grow. He transferred his minority ownership with Braun to Turner Motorsports when Steve Turner took over the Braun program. The relationship with Turner became even greater in January of 2013 when Scott became a full partner with Turner and the rebranded Turner Scott Motorsports.
Prior to the 2013 season, the former Turner Motorsports only fielded teams in the NASCAR Nationwide and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, but both Scott and Turner feel strongly about driver development. The partnership decided to expand their operation and get involved at the regional touring series level.
“Starting the K&N [Pro Series] program gets us in at a base level where we can get this raw talent,’ Scott said. “We can hopefully cultivate both drivers and sponsors, and grow them both together. It’s something both Steve [Turner] and I really wanted to do when we had the opportunity.”
TSM jumped into the K&N Pro Series East waters head-first in 2013. The organization fielded full-time teams for Kwasniewski, Austin Dyne and Kenzie Ruston along with part-time entries for Brandon Jones and Ben Rhodes. Although their lineup for the upcoming 2014 season isn’t finalized, Scott expects to continue to have 4-5 cars for each event.
“Steve always had a focus on developing young talent – he really enjoys that – and I enjoy that as well,” Scott said. “So [establishing the K&N Pro Series program] kind of grew out of that. What we’re trying to do is develop these drivers and bring them through our program – up through the series – and see them graduate.
“Our goal is to provide the platform upon which these drivers can grow their careers by giving them competitive equipment, teaching them how we think they should conduct themselves and help them improve their racing so that they can get to Sundays. That’s the goal for these guys.”
Kwasniewski was a shining star for TSM in its inaugural K&N Pro Series East season. The listed car owner for the No. 98 Royal Purple/Rockstar Energy Drink Chevrolet in 2013 was Mike Curb, who is a silent partner in support of Kwasniewski’s developing career, but the team itself was owned and operated by TSM.
Kwasniewski racked up six wins and 10 top 10s in 14 races in the No. 98 to deliver Scott a championship in his first season as the team’s co-owner.
“He had won the [K&N Pro Series] West championship last year, so obviously we knew he had talent, but he’s a fine young man as well – a really good kid,” Scott said of Kwasniewski.
Sources: Jason Cunningham/NASCAR K&N Pro Series East PR