Every so often, our editorial staff selects one aftermarket industry professional to get to know a little better. Participants are asked to respond to a series of questions that can be answered in about the same amount of time you might spend chatting at the office coffee pot or waiting for an elevator. This week, we hear from Norris Scott, vice president of partnership marketing for NASCAR. Before joining NASCAR in 2005, Scott was senior director, sports management at ESPN/ABC Customer Marketing and Sales, where he developed and managed integrated sponsorship sales for the likes of the NFL, College Football and Bowl Championship Series. However, it was an experience as a teenager in the mid-80s that may have predestined him for a career in the world of auto racing. Read on to learn a little more about Norris. 
What was your first job in the industry?
My first job in sports marketing was at the NYT Magazine Event Marketing Group, where I worked on various golf and tennis tournaments for Golf Digest. Over the past 20 years, I have held other roles at ABC Sports, NFL, ESPN and now NASCAR.
What do you like best about your current position?
No day is the same so I am able to work with many FORTUNE 500 brands that are using NASCAR to grow their business. NASCAR is a great company to work for, and I am fortunate to have a very good team. An area of the sport that has been very exciting is the growth of our NASCAR Green platform, which continues to be a leader in sustainability in all of sports.
Did you initially intend to pursue a career in the aftermarket? If not, what drew you to the industry and what keeps you here?
What is exciting about this industry is the idea of technology and innovation. We are working more in this area to enhance the racing on the track with partners like 3M, Mobil1 and Freescale, which are leaders in their respective industries. We continue to pursue best-in-class partnerships with innovative companies that can help NASCAR create the greatest racing in the world.
What do you do when you are not at work?
I enjoy spending time with family, and we regularly attend car shows.
What one word best sums up your personality?
Patient.
What kind of car do you drive?
I went to college in upstate New York, and saved up to buy a Jeep to handle the winter weather. Kept it for over 125,000 miles, great vehicle. Favorite car? I could not take my eyes off a 1957 Ford Thunderbird recently.
Who was your childhood hero?
When I was a teenager, my first open wheel race was the 1985 Indy 500. I saw Danny Sullivan spin and win and, in that moment, fell in love with auto racing.
If you would like to participate in “Five Minutes With” or know someone who would be a great candidate, contact AMN Editor Amy Antenora by clicking here.
