For Flinn Lazier, he is making a name for himself in his young racing career and participated in the scholarship shootout last month. He said he had a great time even though he did not win the whole thing. “The cars were enjoyable and it was exciting to meet and drive with some of the best around the globe. The track was new to me and made the car that much more fun to dance around. It’s always an enjoyable weekend when you’re at the track,” Lazier said.
Lazier made it all the way to the final six and even though he didn’t win the scholarship, he was proud of making it to the final round. “I knew that I was fast enough to make the fast six but was not sure if it would fall my way. Adapting to the car and the track is a large part of sticking out from the rest of the drivers which is undoubtedly one of my strengths,” Lazier mentioned.
Lazier ran last year in the Formula Enterprises 2 series and it was similar to running the Formula Enterprise season last year. “It was a successful and progressive season but I am hoping to move forward and be able to have more races within the season in the future,” Lazier commented. “The series was similar to the formula enterprise car we ran back in 2017, but it was with a motor and transmission upgrade. The competition was high for the run offs having two multiple national champions along with a few young talents,” Lazier stated.
Lazier got into racing from watching his dad, Buddy Lazier, race in the Indycar Series. Buddy Lazier of course won the Indy 500 back in 1996 but it was Finn’s Mom and Grandma who first took him to the track. “Being around racing at a young age obviously sparked my attraction for motorsports, but my mother and grandmother were the first to ever take me to a track and get me started. My dad didn’t have much interest in getting involved until things became more serious and competitive,” Lazier remarked.
Lazier wanted to race open wheel cars because it’s how he got his start in racing but has always had his eye on sportscar racing as well. “Open wheel cars are my roots and are how I got my start in racing, but sportscar racing is something that has always caught my eye and is certainly not something I take out of account when looking at options. If a ride presented itself at the right time and with the right people, it is something I would love to pursue,” Lazier added.
Lazier is not just a race car driver, he is also a college student at the University of Denver in Colorado. He says that college has always been a great experience for him. “College has been a great tool for me because networking and being social has not always been a strength for me. College is something that seriously encourages group work and social skills in order to be successful. I find my classes interesting but find that the people I meet along the way are much more important to my life now and in the future. It keeps me busy but still allows me to pursue my racing goals,” Lazier said.
To come from a racing family does mean to lot to Lazier but says he wants to make his own name in racing and doesn’t feel any pressure from his family. “It does mean a lot to come from a racing family but not as much as I think. It is a passion we all share, and it is great to share passions with your family, but we are just like any other family. A lot of people ask if there is extra pressure on me to perform because of my family’s background, but I don’t see it that way. I put pressure on myself because I want to succeed and I believe I have what it takes to make it to the top level of motorsport. That pressure does not come from the family,” Lazier commented.
Lazier has no set plans for 2019 and says he will focus on networking and marketing to attract sponsors and funding to push his career into the next chapter. He said he would like an opportunity in the Road to Indy to eventually make his way into the Indycar Series. “I would like to have an opportunity in the Road to Indy and have a shot at a full season to show how strong we could be over the course of a season. But if we are unable to race in the RTI next season, I will be pursuing something that is going to push me as a driver on a mental and physical level,” Lazier remarked.