February 24, 2025 • 9 mins
Since winning the IndyCar Rookie Award in 2021, Scott McLaughlin has gone from strength to strength.
He finished 3rd last year, only 39 points shy of first place, as well as having the historic pole lap at Indy500, going faster than anyone in history.
McLaughlin and his wife also welcomed their first child in October of last year, right at the end of the racing season.
He told Mike Hosking that life as a dad has been pretty wild, but he’s enjoyed it.
“Had a great Christmas, and I’m just really, really excited to get back to the racetrack and get amongst it.”
Their daughter will be coming to the track for the first time this weekend, which McLaughlin says will be awesome.
This is McLaughlin’s fifth year racing, and he’s certain he can claim the win.
“I feel like I’m in the right, the right frame of mind, I feel like I’m driving the best I ever have, and I’ve got all the tools to do it.”
“The title for me is a big goal.”
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
The motor sport world is coming back to life for
(00:01):
the new year. Of course, Supercows this past weekend, testing
in the Middle East for F one this week and
Indy Cow's crank up in some Petersburg this coming weekend.
Indy these days is as much a key we ex
pat community as any Dixon Armstrong and of course Scott McLoughlin,
who dare we suggest, after a series of increasingly successful
season since his debut back in twenty twenty one, might
just be looking at the title itself. Scott McLoughlin is
(00:24):
with us. A very good morning to you.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Hey, Mike Haydon.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
I'm doing extremely well. How's life as a dad?
Speaker 2 (00:33):
I'm really enjoying it. It's been an awesome outlet for us,
both from the off season. Basically as soon as the
season was done, you know, Lucy came into our lives.
So it's it's been pretty wild, but enjoyed it at
a great Christmas and just really really excited to get
back to the racetrack and get amongst it. She's coming
(00:55):
this weekend, which would be awesome. That was track for
the first.
Speaker 1 (00:59):
My next question was how old does she have to
be so for earmuffs on.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Oh yeah, yeah, a muffs are on. Mum's pretty particular
about that, same as dad. But she's going to be
right amongst it. She's been sleeping really well so so
hopefully haven't jinxed that. And she sleeps pretty good on
the at the hotel of the bus. So we'll see
how that goes.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Fantastic. Yeah, correct me if I'm wrong. You're in North Carolina, right.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Yes, yeah, I'm in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
Were you? You guys are fitted in any way, shape
or form by all that dreadful weather that came through
that broad area of America over the Christmas break or not?
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Uh No, a lot of it was west of us,
about a couple of hours west of us, but certainly
got a lot of rain around home. But yeah, it
was very sad up up up western North Carolina, up
Ashville and where the flooding was. You know, we go
up there. It's quite a popular spot for holiday and
and whatnot and and and a lot of breweries and
(01:57):
really fun town and unfortunately, yeah, a lot of it's
been washed away, but they're working really hard. Reminded me
of christ Church, you know, when the earthquakes happen. It's
like a town like that where it's very strong and
you know they managed to rebuild. They will just going
to take some time, which sucks, but eventually it's gonna
be really cool. Good.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
Hey, did you happen to seek the supercars over the
weekend or not?
Speaker 2 (02:22):
I watched the highlights. The races are on too late
for me, but I certainly a lot of the racing
was really good. It was great to see some good
stuff and yeah, it was enjoying it.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
Race two Saturday Night Waters Feenie the side draft finish,
closest finish in the history of supercars. I've never seen
a side draft. If ever, you question the value and
power of side draft, that was it.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Oh absolutely, It's a huge tool these days and so
many sports, even an IndyCar in some ways, the side
draft is such a big thing and exploiting that. It's
a huge deal because not only you can get a
bend sets from it, but you can actually impact the
car in front of you as well the car that
you're chasing. So ultimately, what Cam did was one get
a benefit of the draft and found an air pocket
(03:10):
that he basically put if you could see the air
would you would see that a lot of the air
what got thrown over the top of his car, and
the momentum shifted backwards. So it was a perfect move.
And yeah, it was awesome to see Ben.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
As regards you this year, fifth year, Am I overselling
the prospect? I mean, yes, you want to win? Of
course you do, can you?
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Yeah? Absolutely? Look, I feel just as you know, comfortable
and confident as I did when I started, you know,
sort of going on our run here in New Zealand
Australia with the supercars, So you know, I feel like
I'm I'm at a right the right frame of mind.
I feel like I'm driving the best I ever have
and I've got all the tools to do it. So
there's no reason why we can't compete. It's just going
(03:53):
to be come up to us and how we execute.
And yeah, I have a ton of confidence and certainly
the title for me is a big goal. Good.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
How's your trajectory gone in the time, you know, when
you start? I remember talking to you towards the beginning,
different style of car, fitness levels, neck all that sort
of stuff. How's that trajectory worked out for you? As
far as you're concerned.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
I'm definitely in a great spot now, you know, I'm
I'm definitely feel more of an open wheeler driver than
I do a touring car driver. Now, you know, I've
lost to a couple of my habits of the touring car,
and definitely my fitness has probably reached another level just
for this car. It's just a lot more physical. But
you know it's you know, I've had a blast of
(04:38):
here and I think, yeah, I'm in a great spot.
I think for sure last year I would have loved
to have been a little bit better, maybe a couple
more races or been a little bit close at the
five hundred. But we're improving every year and I think
we're right on track. So we'll see how we.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
Go, how much changes season to season. In terms of
technical specifications, cars, engines, drivers, teams, India.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
That it just gets developed. You know, this car has
been around a long time. The hybrid this is this
will be our second year with the hybrid energy system
that we use. So and for the most part, you know,
engineers have gone between Penske Andassi are other teams, so
a lot of people have the knowledge from other teams
(05:21):
and it's spread throughout the series. So the competitive competitiveness
of the series is right there, and you're just looking
for nuances and looking for little bits and pieces to
you know, really maximize and you know, I think you
know it's there's little things that you hardly will see,
but it's just at half tenth of the second and
you're just constantly developing that part. But in twenty seven
(05:43):
we'll go to a new car, so that'll be a
big thing.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
Fantastic, will I say, North Carolina? Take it you are?
When do you get to When do you get to
some peak for the weekend?
Speaker 2 (05:53):
We leave Thursday morning, so yeah, a couple couple of days,
so it's Monday over here now.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
Okay, as far as the holidays are concerned, all the
in between season, if you like, do you test, Are
you behind a wheel at all? Are you in a
sim anything like that?
Speaker 2 (06:07):
A lot of simulating, A lot of simulator driving for sure,
Probably in that nearly every week from the last race
of the year to now. That's pretty gruelly, and then
probably in the car a couple of times. And I
also did the Dayton in twenty four hour and a
couple other things as well, so sort of I do
the Dayton in twenty four hours a bit of fun.
(06:27):
But at the same time, it's great to get behind
the wheel and drive things.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
That was with Shane, wasn't it.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Yeah, Yeah, yeah it was. It was awesome. I had
a lot of fun.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
Does that change because there was there used to be
that thing in supercars? I could never work out whether
you didn't like each other or it was just competition
or whatever. In a different setting, in a different environment,
is it completely different now?
Speaker 2 (06:51):
I think, you know, we've always had that respect, and honestly,
I think we always have liked each other. But at
the same time, you're chasing that same goal. You know,
you're constantly trying to beat each other, and it makes
it hard to have a personal relationship in some ways.
But if I'm being honest and I think he's the
same deal, you know, I feel like when as soon
(07:11):
as I came over here, you know, we sort of
cracked on to being friends again and being a little
bit more close. He's probably the guy that I spoke
to more often than not week to week, and now
see what he's doing over here is awesome. But yeah,
definitely it doesn't help the meat. He doesn't help it.
And then they try and beef it up, which is
part of the show. But you know, yeah, we definitely
(07:32):
get along really well.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
Now, is he living his dream?
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Yeah, well, I mean I think he is. I think
he's having a blast over here, and he's got a
house here now and he's and it's gone really well. Honestly, Mike,
he's I've always said he's like one of the most
talented guys I've ever raced against, and definitely from a
respect level, and fund racing has been great. But he's
killing it like he is good the NASCAR. What he's
(07:56):
doing is so hard, and I think he's doing such
a great job.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
Fantastic And you're clearly loving America. And you know, I
forgured all the politics and all the weird stuff about
it as a country, as a lifestyle, you're clearly loving it.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
Yeah. Yeah, Look, I think it's been the next step
in my career and and you know, I've really enjoyed
being over here. Certainly miss home a lot, but at
the same time, yeah, I'm building a life here with
my wife and now my baby girl, and yeah, having
a blast doing that. So definitely always sharing the all backs,
so that's the main thing. And yeah, we're enjoying it
(08:30):
over here.
Speaker 1 (08:31):
Good stuff? Is I really this? This is this speaks
to who you are. Did you honestly when you first
met your wife to be Carly, you told her you
were a mechanic?
Speaker 2 (08:42):
Yeah? I did. Yeah, it was you know, make sure
that she didn't take me for advantage, right, So it
worked out good.
Speaker 1 (08:52):
Worked out extremely well. Well listen, good luck with this weekend,
good luck with the whole season. And we're following you
with a great deal of interest and hopefully we'll talk
again soon.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
Yeah, thanks, mate, appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
Good on you, mate, Nice to talk Kets. Scott McLoughlin
out of North Carolina this morning.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
For more from the Mic Asking Breakfast, listen live to
news Talks it'd be from six am weekdays, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
The motor sport world is coming back to life for
(00:01):
the new year. Of course, Supercows this past weekend, testing
in the Middle East for F one this week and
Indy Cow's crank up in some Petersburg this coming weekend.
Indy these days is as much a key we ex
pat community as any Dixon Armstrong and of course Scott McLoughlin,
who dare we suggest, after a series of increasingly successful
season since his debut back in twenty twenty one, might
just be looking at the title itself. Scott McLoughlin is
(00:24):
with us. A very good morning to you.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Hey, Mike Haydon.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
I'm doing extremely well. How's life as a dad?
Speaker 2 (00:33):
I'm really enjoying it. It's been an awesome outlet for us,
both from the off season. Basically as soon as the
season was done, you know, Lucy came into our lives.
So it's it's been pretty wild, but enjoyed it at
a great Christmas and just really really excited to get
back to the racetrack and get amongst it. She's coming
(00:55):
this weekend, which would be awesome. That was track for
the first.
Speaker 1 (00:59):
My next question was how old does she have to
be so for earmuffs on.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Oh yeah, yeah, a muffs are on. Mum's pretty particular
about that, same as dad. But she's going to be
right amongst it. She's been sleeping really well so so
hopefully haven't jinxed that. And she sleeps pretty good on
the at the hotel of the bus. So we'll see
how that goes.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Fantastic. Yeah, correct me if I'm wrong. You're in North Carolina, right.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Yes, yeah, I'm in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
Were you? You guys are fitted in any way, shape
or form by all that dreadful weather that came through
that broad area of America over the Christmas break or not?
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Uh No, a lot of it was west of us,
about a couple of hours west of us, but certainly
got a lot of rain around home. But yeah, it
was very sad up up up western North Carolina, up
Ashville and where the flooding was. You know, we go
up there. It's quite a popular spot for holiday and
and whatnot and and and a lot of breweries and
(01:57):
really fun town and unfortunately, yeah, a lot of it's
been washed away, but they're working really hard. Reminded me
of christ Church, you know, when the earthquakes happen. It's
like a town like that where it's very strong and
you know they managed to rebuild. They will just going
to take some time, which sucks, but eventually it's gonna
be really cool. Good.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
Hey, did you happen to seek the supercars over the
weekend or not?
Speaker 2 (02:22):
I watched the highlights. The races are on too late
for me, but I certainly a lot of the racing
was really good. It was great to see some good
stuff and yeah, it was enjoying it.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
Race two Saturday Night Waters Feenie the side draft finish,
closest finish in the history of supercars. I've never seen
a side draft. If ever, you question the value and
power of side draft, that was it.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Oh absolutely, It's a huge tool these days and so
many sports, even an IndyCar in some ways, the side
draft is such a big thing and exploiting that. It's
a huge deal because not only you can get a
bend sets from it, but you can actually impact the
car in front of you as well the car that
you're chasing. So ultimately, what Cam did was one get
a benefit of the draft and found an air pocket
(03:10):
that he basically put if you could see the air
would you would see that a lot of the air
what got thrown over the top of his car, and
the momentum shifted backwards. So it was a perfect move.
And yeah, it was awesome to see Ben.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
As regards you this year, fifth year, Am I overselling
the prospect? I mean, yes, you want to win? Of
course you do, can you?
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Yeah? Absolutely? Look, I feel just as you know, comfortable
and confident as I did when I started, you know,
sort of going on our run here in New Zealand
Australia with the supercars, So you know, I feel like
I'm I'm at a right the right frame of mind.
I feel like I'm driving the best I ever have
and I've got all the tools to do it. So
there's no reason why we can't compete. It's just going
(03:53):
to be come up to us and how we execute.
And yeah, I have a ton of confidence and certainly
the title for me is a big goal. Good.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
How's your trajectory gone in the time, you know, when
you start? I remember talking to you towards the beginning,
different style of car, fitness levels, neck all that sort
of stuff. How's that trajectory worked out for you? As
far as you're concerned.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
I'm definitely in a great spot now, you know, I'm
I'm definitely feel more of an open wheeler driver than
I do a touring car driver. Now, you know, I've
lost to a couple of my habits of the touring car,
and definitely my fitness has probably reached another level just
for this car. It's just a lot more physical. But
you know it's you know, I've had a blast of
(04:38):
here and I think, yeah, I'm in a great spot.
I think for sure last year I would have loved
to have been a little bit better, maybe a couple
more races or been a little bit close at the
five hundred. But we're improving every year and I think
we're right on track. So we'll see how we.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
Go, how much changes season to season. In terms of
technical specifications, cars, engines, drivers, teams, India.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
That it just gets developed. You know, this car has
been around a long time. The hybrid this is this
will be our second year with the hybrid energy system
that we use. So and for the most part, you know,
engineers have gone between Penske Andassi are other teams, so
a lot of people have the knowledge from other teams
(05:21):
and it's spread throughout the series. So the competitive competitiveness
of the series is right there, and you're just looking
for nuances and looking for little bits and pieces to
you know, really maximize and you know, I think you
know it's there's little things that you hardly will see,
but it's just at half tenth of the second and
you're just constantly developing that part. But in twenty seven
(05:43):
we'll go to a new car, so that'll be a
big thing.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
Fantastic, will I say, North Carolina? Take it you are?
When do you get to When do you get to
some peak for the weekend?
Speaker 2 (05:53):
We leave Thursday morning, so yeah, a couple couple of days,
so it's Monday over here now.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
Okay, as far as the holidays are concerned, all the
in between season, if you like, do you test, Are
you behind a wheel at all? Are you in a
sim anything like that?
Speaker 2 (06:07):
A lot of simulating, A lot of simulator driving for sure,
Probably in that nearly every week from the last race
of the year to now. That's pretty gruelly, and then
probably in the car a couple of times. And I
also did the Dayton in twenty four hour and a
couple other things as well, so sort of I do
the Dayton in twenty four hours a bit of fun.
(06:27):
But at the same time, it's great to get behind
the wheel and drive things.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
That was with Shane, wasn't it.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Yeah, Yeah, yeah it was. It was awesome. I had
a lot of fun.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
Does that change because there was there used to be
that thing in supercars? I could never work out whether
you didn't like each other or it was just competition
or whatever. In a different setting, in a different environment,
is it completely different now?
Speaker 2 (06:51):
I think, you know, we've always had that respect, and honestly,
I think we always have liked each other. But at
the same time, you're chasing that same goal. You know,
you're constantly trying to beat each other, and it makes
it hard to have a personal relationship in some ways.
But if I'm being honest and I think he's the
same deal, you know, I feel like when as soon
(07:11):
as I came over here, you know, we sort of
cracked on to being friends again and being a little
bit more close. He's probably the guy that I spoke
to more often than not week to week, and now
see what he's doing over here is awesome. But yeah,
definitely it doesn't help the meat. He doesn't help it.
And then they try and beef it up, which is
part of the show. But you know, yeah, we definitely
(07:32):
get along really well.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
Now, is he living his dream?
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Yeah, well, I mean I think he is. I think
he's having a blast over here, and he's got a
house here now and he's and it's gone really well. Honestly, Mike,
he's I've always said he's like one of the most
talented guys I've ever raced against, and definitely from a
respect level, and fund racing has been great. But he's
killing it like he is good the NASCAR. What he's
(07:56):
doing is so hard, and I think he's doing such
a great job.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
Fantastic And you're clearly loving America. And you know, I
forgured all the politics and all the weird stuff about
it as a country, as a lifestyle, you're clearly loving it.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
Yeah. Yeah, Look, I think it's been the next step
in my career and and you know, I've really enjoyed
being over here. Certainly miss home a lot, but at
the same time, yeah, I'm building a life here with
my wife and now my baby girl, and yeah, having
a blast doing that. So definitely always sharing the all backs,
so that's the main thing. And yeah, we're enjoying it
(08:30):
over here.
Speaker 1 (08:31):
Good stuff? Is I really this? This is this speaks
to who you are. Did you honestly when you first
met your wife to be Carly, you told her you
were a mechanic?
Speaker 2 (08:42):
Yeah? I did. Yeah, it was you know, make sure
that she didn't take me for advantage, right, So it
worked out good.
Speaker 1 (08:52):
Worked out extremely well. Well listen, good luck with this weekend,
good luck with the whole season. And we're following you
with a great deal of interest and hopefully we'll talk
again soon.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
Yeah, thanks, mate, appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
Good on you, mate, Nice to talk Kets. Scott McLoughlin
out of North Carolina this morning.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
For more from the Mic Asking Breakfast, listen live to
news Talks it'd be from six am weekdays, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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