Look beyond the name.  It’s nearly impossible, being that this racer goes by Speed — Scott Speed.  But there’s plenty behind the last name of the newest addition to Red Bull Racing Team’s trio of stock car drivers.

He never leaves home without his U2-packed iPod.  Speed, at 25 years old, still loves peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and gobbles M&Ms, well, like candy.  He enjoys watching the ruthlessness of Al Pacino in “Scarface.”  Out of the car, he climbs rocks, plays golf and rides bicycles.

In the car, he is all racer, driving the No. 2 Toyota for Eddie Sharp Racing in the Automobile Racing Club of America, and the No. 22 Toyota for Bill Davis Racing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

THE BULL BEHIND THE SPEED

Speed’s connection with Red Bull runs deep.

After kicking ass and taking names and championships in karting for eight years, Speed stepped up to open-wheel racing in 2001, when he won the Formula Russell title in his first try.  In 2002, he continued the climb, competing in the Barber Formula Dodge and Star Mazda series.

That same year, Red Bull began its own version of “American Idol” for single-seat racing.  It was called the Red Bull Driver Search, aimed a putting a United States-born hot shoe in Formula One.  Speed, at a still-green 19, proved his mettle and won the competition.  With Red Bull backing, he crossed the pond for British Formula Three.  In 2004, he won the German Formula Renault and Eurocup championships.

He appeared to be getting the hang of this whole racing on European circuits thing, and GP2 came calling a year later.  Podium finishes were a regular occurrence, and Speed ended up third in the championship.  He got a taste of Formula One, too, running a third car for Red Bull Racing in the North American swing through Montreal and Indianapolis.

A YANK? IN FORMULA ONE?

Believe it.  Speed became the first American in Formula One since Michael Andretti in 1993.  Red Bull gave Speed one of two full-time seats on its sister team — Scuderia Toro Rosso — for the 2006 season.

He immediately was impressive, when in the third grand prix in Australia, Speed was awarded his first world championship point for eighth place before race stewards discovered he had overtaken Red Bull’s David Coulthard under yellow flags.  The ensuing 25-second penalty saw him classified in 11th.  Speed, of course, flirted with points finishes a few more times but never scored.

In February 2007, Scuderia Toro Rosso confirmed that Speed would again hold a race seat, but the season was largely disappointing, punctuated with a mutual parting of the ways with the team.  After seven races, his home grand prix in Indianapolis being the last, Speed was released from his contract at Scuderia Toro Rosso.

His relationship with Red Bull, however, remained strong, and Speed turned his attention to landing a Red Bull-backed drive in the States.

SINGLE-SEATERS TO STOCK CARS

Speed manned up from an evil stomach bug that once threatened his career’s longevity in 2003, so bouncing back after an exit from Formula One is right up his alley.  Red Bull Racing Team has taken on the role of guidance counselor for Speed’s first season in stock cars.

He drives the No. 2 Toyota for the accomplished Eddie Sharp Racing of ARCA — one of the premier developmental stock-car circuits in the United States.  There, he’s learning the ways of fendered bullets rather than Earth-bound fighter planes and the essence of ovals instead of tight and tricky circuits.  His lone start in 2007 saw him finish seventh at Talladega.  Speed is also running a part-time NASCAR Truck Series schedule with Bill Davis Racing in the No. 22 Red Bull Toyota.

Speed’s ultimate goal is none other than the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.