20 NASCAR Interview Questions and Answers

NASCAR is a family-owned and operated business that has been involved in the sport of stock car racing for over 70 years. NASCAR is the sanctioning body for the top three national series in the United States: the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, the Xfinity Series, and the Gander Outdoors Truck Series.

If you’re interested in working for NASCAR, you can expect to be asked a variety of questions about your experience, qualifications, and knowledge of the sport. To help you prepare, we’ve gathered a list of sample NASCAR interview questions and answers.

NASCAR Interview Process

The interview process at NASCAR can vary depending on the position you are applying for. For internships, there may only be a couple of rounds of interviews, while management positions may have several rounds of interviews with different members of the team. The questions asked in the interviews are mostly behavioral, but some may be specific to the role you are applying for. Overall, the interview process is relatively quick and easy, although some applicants have reported being ghosted after the interview process.

1. What is your experience with the sports industry?

NASCAR is a major sport in the United States, so many people have some experience with it. However, this question can help an interviewer determine how much you know about NASCAR and whether you are familiar with other sports as well. If you have worked in the sports industry before, be sure to mention your role and what you did. If you don’t have any professional experience, consider mentioning your personal interest in racing or another sport.

Example: “I’ve been a fan of NASCAR for years, but I also enjoy watching football and basketball. In my free time, I like to play pickup games with friends at the local park. I’m currently working as a freelance writer, where I write articles on all kinds of topics, including sports.”

2. How would you use social media to engage NASCAR fans?

Social media is an important part of NASCAR, and the interviewer may ask you this question to see how you would use social media to engage fans. Use examples from your experience in using social media to interact with customers or clients.

Example: “I have used social media for customer service purposes at my current job, so I understand that it’s a great way to interact with people who are interested in NASCAR. In my previous role as a marketing intern, I helped create a NASCAR-themed Snapchat filter for one of our sponsor events. This was a fun way to engage fans on social media and show them what they could expect if they attended the event.”

3. Why do you want to work at NASCAR?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to learn more about your passion for NASCAR. They want to know that you are knowledgeable about the sport and have an interest in working with it. When answering this question, make sure to highlight how much you enjoy watching races and learning about the drivers.

Example: “I love NASCAR because I am passionate about cars and racing. I grew up watching my dad watch races on TV, so I developed a love of the sport at a young age. I also really like the idea of teamwork between the driver and crew members. It’s interesting to see how each person works together to achieve a common goal.”

4. Tell me about a time where you had to deal with an irate customer, how did you handle it?

This question is a great way to see how you handle conflict and stress. NASCAR fans can sometimes get upset if their favorite driver doesn’t perform well, so it’s important that the team members who interact with customers have strong customer service skills.

Example: “I once worked at a restaurant where I was one of the only servers on duty. One night, we were extremely busy, and I had several tables all needing my attention at once. A family came in and asked for a table for four, but there weren’t any available. They got very upset and demanded to speak to a manager. I apologized profusely and explained that we would be able to seat them as soon as another party left. The father became even more irate and started yelling at me.

I took a deep breath and calmly told him that I understood his frustration, but that I couldn’t do anything about the situation until someone else left. He calmed down slightly and said he understood, but that they needed to eat dinner before going to the show. I assured him that I would take care of them as quickly as possible.”

5. Describe a time when you were working on a team project and there was conflict, how did you handle it?

NASCAR teams are often made up of several people, so it’s important to show that you can work well with others. When answering this question, try to highlight your communication skills and ability to compromise.

Example: “In my last position as a mechanic, I was working on a project with another mechanic who had different ideas about how the project should be completed. We both wanted to do what was best for the team, but we also each wanted to prove our own methods were better. After talking through our differences, we realized we could find a middle ground where we could use elements from both approaches to create something new. This led to an even more efficient way to complete the task.”

6. Give an example of a time when you went above and beyond for a client or customer.

This question is a great way to show your interviewer that you are willing to go the extra mile for them and their company. When answering this question, it can be helpful to think of a time when you went above and beyond for a client or customer and how it helped improve their experience with your work.

Example: “When I was working as an accountant at my previous job, one of my clients called me in a panic because they had lost some important documents. They were worried about what would happen if they didn’t have those documents by the deadline. I stayed late that night to help them find the documents so they could submit them on time.”

7. Do you have any experience selling sponsorships?

Sponsorships are a major source of revenue for NASCAR teams. The team owner wants to know if you have experience selling sponsorships and how much money you’ve brought in for previous employers. If you don’t have direct experience, you can talk about your sales skills and how they could help the team sell more sponsorship deals.

Example: “I haven’t sold sponsorships before, but I do have experience negotiating contracts with clients. In my last role as an account manager, I helped secure new business from several large companies. This experience has given me valuable insight into what companies look for when choosing a marketing partner. I think this knowledge would be useful when selling sponsorships to potential partners.”

8. Are you comfortable with cold-calling potential clients?

This question is a good way to determine how comfortable you are with networking and cold-calling. NASCAR teams often need to reach out to potential sponsors, so the interviewer wants to know if you have experience doing this. If you do not have any experience, you can talk about your willingness to learn.

Example: “I am definitely willing to cold-call potential sponsors. I understand that it’s an important part of building relationships with new clients. In my previous role as a sales representative for a software company, I was responsible for reaching out to businesses in our target market. I would call them up and introduce myself and our product. I found that many people were interested in learning more about our products after talking to me.”

9. What are some of your favorite NASCAR events?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you are a true NASCAR fan. They may also use your answer to decide which events they should schedule you for. When answering this question, try to include some of the major races and why you enjoy them.

Example: “My favorite event is the Daytona 500 because it’s the first race of the season. It’s always exciting to see who will win the championship at the end of the year. I also love watching the All-Star Race because it’s so different from other races. The drivers compete in teams instead of individually, and there are no cautions or pit stops. It’s fun to watch them strategize together.”

10. When was the last time that a manager gave you feedback, what was it about?

This question is a great way to show your ability to accept feedback and use it to improve. When answering this question, try to focus on the positive aspects of the feedback you received and how you used it to grow as a professional.

Example: “My last manager gave me some constructive criticism about my communication style with other employees. I realized that I was being too direct in my conversations, which made others feel uncomfortable. After our conversation, I worked on improving my communication skills by practicing active listening techniques and asking more open-ended questions.”

11. What is your approach to meeting new people?

NASCAR is a sport that involves many people. The interviewer wants to know how you will interact with new people and make them feel welcome. Use your answer to highlight your communication skills, teamwork abilities and ability to work under pressure.

Example: “I always try to be friendly when meeting new people. I introduce myself and ask questions about their job or what they do in the sport. This helps me learn more about the team and makes others feel comfortable around me. When I first started working at my current company, I was nervous about talking to other employees. However, I made an effort to talk to everyone and learned about each person’s role on the team. Now, we are all good friends.”

12. What is your experience with managing teams?

NASCAR teams are often large groups of people who work together to achieve a common goal. Employers ask this question to make sure you have experience managing a team and can do so effectively. In your answer, explain what it was like to manage a team in the past. Share some tips for how you would go about doing so if you haven’t managed one before.

Example: “In my previous role as an engineer, I worked with a team of five other engineers. We all had different skill sets that we used to solve problems and create new designs. I think the most important thing when working on a team is communication. It’s vital that everyone knows what they’re supposed to be doing and feels comfortable asking questions or sharing their ideas.”

13. What qualities make up a good leader?

NASCAR is a team sport, so it’s important that you can lead your fellow crew members. Employers ask this question to make sure you have the leadership skills necessary for the job. In your answer, explain what qualities you think are important in a leader and how those relate to NASCAR.

Example: “I believe a good leader needs to be able to motivate their team. I am always looking for ways to help my teammates improve their performance. Another quality of a good leader is being able to communicate effectively with others. I feel like communication is key to making sure everyone on the team understands their roles and responsibilities. Finally, a good leader should be someone who sets an example for others. I try to do this by working hard every day and doing everything I can to ensure our cars are ready to race.”

14. Tell us about a time when you felt like you were part of something bigger than yourself.

This question is a great way to learn more about your candidate’s values and how they see themselves in the world. It can also help you understand what motivates them, which can be useful when trying to determine if they’re a good fit for the team.

Example: “I’ve always been passionate about helping others succeed. When I was working as an assistant manager at my local grocery store, we had a new employee who was struggling with some of the basic tasks. Instead of just telling him what he needed to do, I took him aside and showed him how to perform each task. He thanked me profusely, and it made me feel like I was part of something bigger than myself.”

15. Which areas of marketing are you most interested in?

This question is a great way to show your knowledge of the NASCAR industry. It also allows you to share what interests you most about marketing and how it can help improve the sport’s brand.

Example: “I’m very interested in social media marketing, as I think it’s an effective way to reach younger audiences. I’ve seen that many drivers have started using Snapchat filters at races, which has helped them connect with fans who use the app. I would love to implement more social media strategies like this one to help build the sport’s online presence.”

16. What is your experience with event planning?

Event planning is a key skill for anyone working in NASCAR. Event planners are responsible for organizing and implementing all aspects of the event, including transportation, security, catering and hospitality. Your interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your experience with large-scale events. In your answer, describe your previous experience with event planning and highlight any specific skills you have that can be useful in this role.

Example: “I’ve worked as an event planner for over five years now. I started out my career as a freelance event planner, where I planned weddings, corporate events and festivals. Eventually, I was able to work my way up to become an event coordinator at a local venue. There, I learned how to plan larger scale events like concerts and sporting events.”

17. How well do you work under pressure?

NASCAR is a fast-paced sport, and the interviewer wants to know how you will react when things get hectic. Use examples from your past experience that show you can handle pressure well.

Example: “I have worked in racing for five years now, so I am used to working under pressure. In my last position as a pit crew member, we had to change tires on our cars within seconds of them coming into the pit stop. We were timed during every race, so it was important to work quickly but efficiently. I learned to focus on one task at a time and not worry about the other tasks until they were needed.”

18. What types of programs do you feel comfortable using?

The interviewer may ask this question to determine your comfort level with the software they use at their company. If you have no experience using NASCAR race management programs, it’s important to let the interviewer know that you’re willing to learn and develop these skills.

Example: “I’ve used several different types of race management software in my previous roles, including both desktop and cloud-based systems. I feel comfortable learning new programs quickly, so if there is a specific system you use here, I’m happy to familiarize myself with it as soon as possible.”

19. Have you ever worked as a volunteer before, if so tell us about your experience?

NASCAR is a sport that relies on volunteers to help with many of the events. The hiring manager may ask this question to see if you have any experience working as a volunteer and how it relates to NASCAR. If you do, share your experiences and what you learned from them.

Example: “I volunteered at my local library for two years while I was in college. It was a great way to meet new people and learn more about myself. I also got to work with children who were interested in reading. I would read books aloud to them and answer questions they had about the stories. I really enjoyed volunteering there because I could make a difference in someone’s life.”

20. Tell us about a time when you had to prioritize multiple projects.

This question can help interviewers understand how you prioritize your time and manage multiple projects. Use examples from previous work experience to explain how you organized your schedule, managed deadlines and communicated with your team members or supervisors about the progress of each project.

Example: “In my last role as a marketing manager, I had to balance several different projects at once. One of my main responsibilities was creating content for our social media accounts. I also worked on developing new campaigns and promotions that we could use in our advertising efforts. In addition to these tasks, I regularly met with clients to discuss their needs and expectations. By prioritizing my day and setting realistic goals, I was able to complete all of my projects while maintaining high-quality results.”