Team Penske Driver Scott McLaughlin
Scott McLaughlin joined Team Penske in March of 2021 and earned the opportunity to represent the Pennzoil® brand as the driver of the iconic “yellow submarine” in the NTT INDYCAR Series Indy 500 racing event. McLaughlin’s move to the US and a full-time role at Team Penske was quickly validated; his ability to drive the Number 3 PPG/DEX Imaging®/Pennzoil®/Car Shop/Dallara Chevrolet became apparent from day one. Powered by Pennzoil® Synthetics 0w Motor Oil*, Scott outscored two other talented first-year drivers to win the 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES to win Rookie of the Year honors – the first Team Penske driver to win the award since 1979. Pennzoil® is the official motor oil of the NTT Indy Car Series.
Born in Christ Church, New Zealand in 1993, the long, successful motorsports career of Scott McLaughlin began in the Australian and New Zealand Karting scene at the age of 8. He was pulled straight into the 2010 Supercars Dunlop development series at 16 and it wasn’t long before he would become known as one of the most successful race drivers in the history of Australian Supercars.
When McLaughlin was brought in to replace an ill Alex Premat, he placed 17th in the final Supercars Champions Race of the 2012 season. This performance earned a spot on the Gary Rogers Motorsports squad for the following season, and he became the youngest-ever winner of a Supercars Championship Race Pukekohe Park Raceway, in front of an adoring home crowd. Ranking 10th in the series standings, he also won the coveted Mike Kable Young Gun Award as the top rookie racer. In the next four seasons, he earned eight victories and 17 poles finishing inside the top 10 in the championship standings each year.
Joining Team Penske on the DJRTP squad in 2017, Scott’s dominance in the Australian Supercars Championships was highlighted by 48 wins, 59 poles, and three series championships over just four seasons. A victory in the world-famous Bathurst 1000 would precede his transition to the precision, high powered open-wheel machines in the NTT Indy Car Series.
The driver’s star continued to rise, finishing a solid 14th and 17th at Barber Motorsports Park and St. Petersburg, and shocking the racing scene with a spectacular 2nd place finish at Texas Motor Speedway, his first-ever experience on the oval. He closed his legendary rookie season with a top-five finish at World-Wide Technology Raceway, a top 10 at Portland International Raceway, and solid performances at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on the streets of Long Beach.
In 2019, McLaughlin assembled a Supercars series single-season record 18 victories, 15 poles and 22 podium finishes, resulting in his second-consecutive driver’s title. McLaughlin also earned his first career win in the legendary Bathurst 1000 race, as he and co-driver Alex Premat won from the pole for Team Penske’s first-ever victory in the Supercars endurance classic.
At just 28, McLaughlin enters the 2022 season ranked third on Team Penske’s all-time wins list, and third in all-time poles.
Scott resides in Charlotte, North Carolina with his wife Karly, and is an avid golfer.
