PGP pleased to welcome motorsports veteran Scott Cowell to the team

At PGP Motorsports Park, we realize a big part of what makes us the top racing venue in the Pacific Northwest is the people who work here.

With that in mind, we’re pleased to announce the addition of Scott Cowell to the PGP staff. Scott’s 20 years of experience as a racer, driving instructor and race engineer will provide immediate benefit to the multiple and diverse groups that enjoy competing on PGP’s award-winning track.



"After seeing the amazing facility (PGP owners) Paul and Juli Zalud and their crew have built in such a short period of time, I'm very excited to be able to bring my motorsports experience to the team,” said Scott. “It seems everyone at PGP is driven by the common goal to be the absolute best action sports facility of its kind in the nation.”



The 28-year-old comes to PGP after working as track manager at SIMA International Raceway, an outdoor karting facility that opened last summer in Sumas, Wash. PGP and SIMA were built around the same time — PGP opened a year earlier, in summer 2009 — but everyone was already familiar with each other.



“The karting industry is rather tight-knit and being involved in karting in the Northwest pretty much everyone knows everyone,” Scott said with a small laugh. “But Paul also owns and operated the Stars of Karting national series, and I was actively involved in that as a mechanic and engineer. So when this opportunity presented itself and knowing the potential, I was very excited.”



That feeling was mutual.



“We have been searching for someone that can truly represent Juli and me when we are not on hand. Most of my responsibilities are actually away from the track, coming up with new ways to promote the facility, doing trade shows and otherwise outside selling,” said Paul Zalud. “It was also important to find some help for our son Kyle, who has been burning both ends of the candle and done a great job. But it is just too much as we continue to grow. I am very excited that Scott is with us now and we are all much better off with him on board.”



Scott’s visit fell on the day of the Bigger Foot Tandem drifting event, so he not only got to see and check out the facility, but also get a taste for the versatility of motorsports PGP can host — and the strong bond that has been created with PGP’s customers and fans.

“Saturday’s drift event was definitely the largest number of spectators I’ve ever seen at a kart track anywhere in the world,” said Scott. “My major background has been in karting, but I’ve been a huge motorsports fan my whole life. I think SuperMoto is going to be as much fun as was the drifting event. To be more involved in a motorsports facility and not just a karting facility is an exciting change and challenge for me.”



Originally from New Orleans, Scott began karting at 8 and spent 10 years behind the wheel. He moved around a lot after leaving The Big Easy, including stops in North Carolina and Minnesota to name just two places, and worked as a stock car engineer for a couple years. His focus returned full-time to karting about eight years ago, with time spent in racer development and engineering.



After just one visit to PGP Scott said he was “amazingly impressed by how hard Kyle, Matt and Colin all work as well as the rest of the staff,” and he is confident his background and experience will be of benefit to PGP’s loyal customers, which includes karters — both competition and arrive-and-drive rentals — SuperMoto riders, drifters and car lappers. “Oh, and the extreme obstacle course runners and specialty cyclers and all the future events PGP is constantly developing.”



"In my 20 years in the sport I've been fortunate enough to participate in motorsports from every angle. I’ve operated facilities and I’ve been on the consumer side of racetracks, having raced myself and working for race teams,” he said. “I know what the consumer wants from a racetrack. Having that perspective helps me to ensure that we’re providing what PGP customers want."