Career in NASCAR or Formula One?

Question

I live in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada and I want to pursue a career in auto racing. I'm 16, and I will start go karting soon. I'm thinking of ways to acquire the money necessary to get into these forms of racing. Giving these pieces of information about me do you think that I will have a better chance of going into NASCAR or formula One?

Answer 1

I had a dream similar to yours, although I wanted to work in motorsports. I had the great opportunity of having a phone conversation with one of the head engineers at TRD back when I was in college. He gave me the best advice I ever received: be persistent.

I have the same advice for you: If racing is what you love and is the blood in your veins, then go for it. Keeping pushing until it happens. Use ever opportunity that comes your way.

After moving 3000 miles to NC after I graduated college, I went door to door visiting NASCAR ARCA, Truck, Busch, and Cup series race shops until one Busch team gave me the opportunity to prove myself by working for free for a couple weeks. I later learned to build shocks and run data acquisition for a Cup team. I met many men who work in this industry in order to support their Saturday night racing and maybe eventually get the chance to drive in a much bigger arena.

There are chances out there like Roush's annual gong show where he gives many undiscovered racers a chance to apply, perhaps compete in this event, and eventually start one lucky winner's career in NASCAR.

Good luck!

Answer 2

If you are only 16 and just starting out in karts then you will have a long way to go before you would make a decision between F1 and Nascar. However, due to your location in north america and the fact that there are more opportunities in Nascar than f1 I would say that nascar may be your best bet right now. But, without much experience it is hard for you to say what will feel better in a few years.
Don't forget, many of the current drivers in nascar and f1 have been karting since they were very young and there have only been a few (like Tony Stewart or Alex Zanardi) who have gotten into racing after the age of about 7 or 8 and made it all the way. The Hiedfelds, schumachers and jeff gordons have all been racing since almost the time they could walk.

Answer 3

Be open to Both....

If you build a winning record in Karting then look towards Open wheel racing near you some where... Or Build a SCCA race car and build points... All will help on the next step...

Try to get seat time in someones real race car, Sportsman Class
or OutLaw...

Once you have some track time under your belt Look into Discovery Chanel's Show I want to drive Nascar (they are going to change the name),,, Sponsered by Jack Roush and Roush Racing... They have picked 4 drivers from this Show that have gone into Nascar out of 1000's of drivers

If there is a Formula One Shop anywhere near you check into visiting it and taking the tour..

Good Luck.... Just do It...

Answer 4

Both are long shots, but the odds are probably more in favor of NASCAR. Becoming a paid racer at any level is something like a one in a thousand prospect, and there are more teams, more cars per race, and the money involved in getting started in NASCAR is much lower.

More importantly, there are a lot of feeder series that can lead to NASCAR, while ascending to F1 usually involves a championship in CART or IRL, or cutting your teeth in F2 (which will require a commitment to living in Europe)

Personally, I would try to get into open wheel or sportscar racing. Even though the chances of making a career in it are somewhat worse, it will be more enjoyable in the long run. Road courses are more fun to drive, and will be a natural follow on to Karting.

Answer 5

There are maybe 100 guys making a living in NASCAR, most Americans. There are maybe 30 guys making a living in F1. Just a few from each country. You can probably buy a ride in NASCAR (not a good one) by bringing in as little as $100,000 in personal sponsor money. For F1, multiply that by ten, at least.

Just a lot more opportunities in NASCAR.

Note that a lot of people want to do this. Many of them drive real fast. To get a sponsor you're going to have to succeed on your own money first. Most young drivers get a lot of backing from their parents.

Answer 6

You should have been racing karts at Goodwood or Whitby four years ago.
Perhaps you might want to concentrate on karting for the next three or four years before even thinking about a career in any form of racing. You'll probably find out that the vast majority at any karting club share your ambitions and you'll also find out that the really serious kart racers are operating with budgets of up to $25,000.
It's nice to dream, but reality has to set in at some stage; remember there are only 22 (24 in 2008) Formula One drivers as well as a handful who toil as test drivers and there is no longer a Canadian among them.
http://www.torontokartclub.com/
http://www.mosportkartclub.com/index.php

Answer 7

Apparently, yes. Because they need to aquire the skills needed to become a top driver/racer. For example, two-time F1 world champion Fernando Alonso. He started karting (is it karting?) at age three. And look at him now. Youngest double world champion. Or Michael Schumacher. He started karting at age four and he is now the most successful F1 driver ever. As for NASCAR, I have no proof of it. I am only an F1 expert.

Answer 8

formula one is better and it has class unlike nascar

Answer 9

Study and get a degree instead of choosing to surround yourself with subhuman scum for a lifetime.

And that's just the NASCAR fans. I'm not even talking about the drivers.