The loud, rumbling exhaust note of Scott Borchetta’s red 1972 Corvette #05 is unmistakable. Even in a paddock filled with adeptly tuned race cars, his powerful V8 turns heads the moment the engine is summoned to life.
Loud and raucous, with a clear note of evil intent, many cringe at the sound, but to Scott Borchetta, it’s soul-soothing music.
For Borchetta growing up in Southern California, it was all about racing motocross and quarter-midget cars as a kid. In the ’80s the family moved to Nashville and Scott followed his father into the music business.
A move that would forever shape his life.
Before he created Big Machine Records, discovered mega-talented performers such as Taylor Swift, or worked as a mentor on “American Idol,” Borchetta was winning races at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway.
In the Speedway’s SuperTruck series, he went on to win the championship in 2003, 2004, and 2005.
In 2005, the year Borchetta won his third SuperTrucks series championship, he also was managing the careers of Toby Keith, Reba McEntire, and several other big-name artists at Universal Music Group.
The roster eventually grew to include Keith, McEntire, Tim McGraw, Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Sheryl Crow, Thomas Rhett, Martina McBride, Rascal Flatts, Florida Georgia Line, and The Band Perry along with many other headliners.
Even while experiencing tremendous success in the music business, Borchetta, 58, never lost his passion for racing.
We caught up with Scott in the paddock just after he just laid down some blistering lap times in practice. What follows is our edited transcript. Enjoy
Championship Form
Rod Worley – Editor – Scott, let’s start by talking about your racing career. Beginning in 2003, you won three consecutive SuperTruck series championships at the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway.
What was your first SuperTruck race like, and who got you into SVRA racing?
Scott Borchetta – Big Machine CEO – Rod, the very first SuperTruck race I did was a blur because the first time you’re out there with 30 other guys, and you’re up at speed, you’re just trying to remember your marks and everything else.
I mean, it was an absolute blur, but at the same time an absolute buzz.
I’ve been a fan of racing since I could walk and started with motocross out in California and then quarter-midgets. Then got away from it for a time.
We got back into it with Legends car racing back in Nashville in the mid-90s. I moved up and went on to win the NASCAR SuperTruck championship three years in a row, 2003, 2004, and 2005, and I thought that was it.
My buddy Ray Evernham got me racing in the vintage series with SVRA a few seasons ago. Now we’re having an absolute blast.
170 MPH Chess Match
Rod Worley – Editor – For those who have never experienced this level of racing, how would you describe it?
Scott Borchetta – Big Machine CEO – Well, there’s nothing else like it. You know, it’s like a chess match at 170 mph. You’ve got to be aware of what’s going on around you at all times.
At the same time, you’re trying to maximize the car. You’re trying to make a machine, do what you want it to do.
And the machine doesn’t know any different if it’s only going to do what you instructed to do.
There’s a major mental and physical challenge to get the car to do what you want it to do. You are continually trying to understand what the best strategy is on the track.
And that’s why road racing is so competitive and so exciting because I’m learning every lap how to get through the turn better and come back to the gas quicker.
It’s a constant learning curve attached to a huge buzz.
Racing Edge In Business
Rod Worley – Editor – How has racing sharpened your successful business career? Are there any track strategies that you can apply to business?
Scott Borchetta – Big Machine CEO – You know, they’re very similar in my mind. I’ve always said I’ll go deeper into turn one, then you will.
Show me the open lane, and I’ll take it. It translates a lot to the music business.
You’re always looking for the open lane. People don’t want what they already have.
They what something new and exciting. So you’re always looking for the open lane in both.
2011 Indy 500 Win
Rod Worley – Editor – Some of Big Machine’s racing successes include back-to-back Indianapolis 500 wins with the late Dan Wheldon in 2011 and Dario Franchitti in 2012.
The 2011 Indy 500 win stands out in everyone’s mind because the end was so unexpected.
Can you take us through watching JR Hildebrand crash on the last lap of the 2011 Indy 500?
Scott Borchetta – Big Machine CEO – So, we were in the suites in turn two.
As you know, Dan Wheldon had been good all day. He hadn’t led a lap, but he was hanging around.
As any racer will tell you, to win a race, you’ve got to be in the top five near the end. Dan was so confident that day.
And, you know, I ran number 98 on my SuperTruck. I’ve won so many times on Memorial Day weekend.
I came in that morning, and I told him, I’m bringing you so much good luck today.
You have no idea how much.
And so we’re watching, and if you remember, the strategy, Dario Franchitti and Scott Dixon were way off in their fuel strategy. They even ran out of fuel in the qualifying laps.
As the leaders were cycling through pit stops, Hildebrand took the lead with two laps to go. Hildebrand’s low on fuel but still good.
So I’m thinking we’re going to finish second. And so we’re watching. Hilderbrand goes by, Welden goes by, and then we’re watching the big screen.
And then we see Hildebrand hit the wall, and Dan passes him, and the whole suite is going bonkers.
Dan knows we’re in turn two, and he waves as he goes by, and we’re like, oh my God, we’ve got to get to Victory Lane now!
We’re scrambling to get there, but we’re literally a mile away because it’s a 2.5-mile track. So we’re doing everything we can to get there, I mean golf carts, running, et cetera.
And right when I got to the edge of Victory Lane, I heard Dan say, “And I want to thank Big Machine Records.” and I’ll never forget that.
Big Machine Vodka Sponsors SVRA
Rod Worley – Editor – Big Machine Vodka is now the official Vodka of the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA). What synergies do you see between the two brands, and what drew you to SVRA initially?
Scott Borchetta – Big Machine CEO – Ray Evernham was the one who brought me to SVRA. I honestly didn’t even know it existed before that. And now I’m having so much fun with it. Any time I can support racing, I do.
So whether it’s the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, which we’ve been supporting for many years, or whether it’s the NASCAR Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Indy Brickyard, I try to promote racing.
Everything about Big Machine is a lifestyle. As a spirits business, it gives us a strong connection with racing and the racing lifestyle.
I take joy in this relationship with SVRA because they’re a first-rate organization. Not only is my company a sponsor, but I am also an active competitor as a driver in their events.
Commitment To Racing
Big Machine Label Group President/CEO and Big Machine Vodka owner Scott Borchetta has continued his commitment to racing through corporate sponsorships on several levels.
Big Machine’s ongoing sponsorship of the NASCAR Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, for instance, has been ongoing for several years.
He is part of the ownership group for the Music City Grand Prix (coming in August 2021), which is bringing an NTT IndyCar Grand Prix to Nashville in 2021.
In a short span of time, Big Machine has established its brand among the most recognizable sponsors of motorsports in the country. Big Machine Vodka’s sponsorship of SVRA is just the latest in a long and prominent list.
To this day, racing fuels Scott’s passion. The lightning bolt on the hood of his race car pays homage to Al Unser, Sr, and visually demonstrates Scott’s unrelenting drive for success.
As the intimidating red 1972 Corvette race car roars to life, you can just tell, SVRA racing is music to Scott Borchetta’s ears.
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