Steven Scott ’27 always knew he wanted to be part of professional motorsports. As a child, he dreamed of driving a race car, but by high school, he realized his 6’6” frame and size 12 feet were not well-suited for a cockpit. Instead of giving up, he found another way to fuel his passion.

Through NXG Youth Motorsports, a STEM-based racing program in Indianapolis, Scott gained invaluable hands-on experience that helped shift his focus from competitive driving to the intricate work behind the racing scenes. Scott’s aptitude for electronic equipment caught the attention of NXG volunteer and IndyCar Senior Director of Technology Jon Koskey who recognized his potential and began helping fast-track his career aspirations through summer apprenticeships and job shadowing opportunities.

Since 2022, Scott has been invited back to work at IndyCar each summer, and he currently balances his college coursework with an internship that began during the Immersive Term. As part of IndyCar’s timing, scoring and technology team, Scott shares responsibility for ensuring that each race car’s transponder is synced seamlessly with the 40 data collection boxes around the Indianapolis 500 track. This real-time data is crucial for racing teams, enabling them to make strategic adjustments that enhance their performance and maintain race flow.

Over the years, Scott has faced the high-pressure demands of troubleshooting, such as the split-second fix required when a broken cable disrupted critical race data. “There have been some high-intensity moments,” he said. But his experience has also come with unforgettable thrills — like riding as a passenger during test runs in three different pace cars.

Scott, a computer software engineering major, said he is beginning to see how his college courses connect to his career aspirations. His courses with computing professor Kerry Smith ’90, Ph.D., have strengthened his skills in Excel, Structured Query Language and data management — essential for his ongoing internship, he said. One of Scott’s current projects with IndyCar involves writing a program to capture real-time tracking of drivers’ tire stints. The data will help tire manufacturers such as Firestone with future decision-making. “It’s teaching me patience and reinforcing my problem-solving skills. There’s a lot of trial and error, and I’m realizing it may take writing five versions of this program to get to the final one,” he said.

For Scott, the dream of racing may have changed, but the passion remains. Now, instead of chasing the checkered flag, he’s helping others cross the finish line and looking forward to volunteering this summer with NXG, mentoring young students just as he once was. Looking ahead, he hopes to secure a full-time role with IndyCar but remains open to opportunities in other racing series. Wherever he goes, he will carry lessons in quick decision-making, adaptability and teamwork.

By: Amy VerSteeg ’96

Franklin College Magazine