Scott's interest in stockcar racing began in 1972, when his family moved to Ohio, and his father, Tom, became crew chief on the family owned late model. While to young to be in the pits, Scott would do what ever he could in the shop, learning the tools of the trade. After high school, Scott studied Mechanical Engineering, first at Sinclair Community College and then graduating from the University of Cincinnati, to learn more about the dynamics and engineering involved in stock car racing

 In 1988, Scott entered his first race as a driver, finishing 13^th in a 200-lap enduro race. The following year, as part of his Senior Design project, Scott won the second 200-lap enduro race, after finishing 2^nd in the first race.

Scott moved up to the faster modifieds in 1992, racing at Kil-Kare Speedway in Xenia, Ohio, and Shadybowl Speedway in Degraff, Ohio. After Finishing 2^nd in points in 1997, Scott and the Reeser Racing Team began running the highly competitive USA Modified Series, This has allowed to team to travel throughout the Midwest, racing from Madison, Wisconsin, to New Smyrna, Florida.