If you see a driver walking into the garage with a Louis Vuitton man bag slung over his shoulder, you can bet it's Scott Speed.

Here to master the art of stock-car racing and embrace the NASCulture, the former Formula One driver, accustomed to yacht life and casinos in Monte Carlo, is far from a good ol' boy.

The 25-year-old West Coast native didn't grow up in the South, he's never shopped at a Cabela's and he doesn't have a home on Lake Norman neighboring the dozens of race shops in Mooresville, N.C.

Scott Speed won the ARCA race at Kansas Speedway this year.

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They want me in a Cup car as soon as possible, but I want to race and relax and take my time in ARCA as long as possible. Until that time, I'm putting myself in a position to learn. However long it takes, I'm confident I will be successful in the Cup Series.

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SCOTT SPEED

He has a home in Austria, as well as a home north of Uptown Charlotte. He requires regular facials, and if fashion was an Olympic sport, he'd be a gold medallist.

"Tom Ford is the essence of what is sexy for a man; he's my role model," chuckled Speed, referring to the American fashion designer he reps often. "Honestly, I definitely think a population in the garage thinks I'm gay. It's hilarious; it makes me want to dress louder."

Speed is quickly becoming known for his outrageous wears, yes, but equally known for his steady progression through the ranks of stock-car racing.

After spending most of his young life chasing the dream of becoming a notable American Formula One driver, Speed is now competing for the ARCA RE/MAX Series championship and running a limited schedule in NASCAR's Craftsman Truck Series for Bill Davis Racing with assistance from Red Bull Racing, the same organization that fielded and funded his stint in F1.

His alliance with Red Bull came when Speed won the Red Bull Driver Search in 2002 geared to finding an American driver to compete in F1. Speed received financial backing to race in Europe and prepare for an F1 ride he landed in 2006 with Scuderia Toro Rosso, Red Bull's sister team. After he was released from the ride, Red Bull introduced Speed to Eddie Sharp Racing, who fields two Toyotas in the ARCA Series.

Speed's stock-car debut came last fall at Talladega Superspeedway, where he qualified seventh and finished seventh, as well.

This season, Speed found his first ARCA win at Kansas and sits sixth in the points. In addition to two top-10 finishes in the Truck Series, Speed said he is more than confident his Sprint Cup Series debut will come as early as next season.

"They want me in a Cup car as soon as possible, but I want to race and relax and take my time in ARCA as long as possible. Until that time, I'm putting myself in a position to learn. However long it takes, I'm confident I will be successful in the Cup Series," said Speed, recently returning from a 15th-place finish in the Truck Series' Ohio 250 at Mansfield.

"It was great weekend for us," Speed said. "We qualified sixth and were running with the sharp end of the field but got wrecked. It was awesome. I was moved out of the way short-track style ... We recovered, still running 14th, and I got wrecked again. It was the most fun race I've ever been in after getting wrecked twice."

For Speed, it's all about learning and keeping a positive attitude. He admires the passion and emotion the drivers display.

"The Truck Series is a cool experience. Everyone drives so hard, like pit bulls off the leash attacking everybody," he said.

That's the difference between F1 and NASCAR, Speed said, where in open-wheel machines it's important to go fast and endure the G-forces; however, in stock cars you're racing side-by-side the entire time and understanding the feeling of the car and what it is doing is more important.

Speed is relishing his steady transition to stock cars, unlike his open-wheel counterparts Juan Montoya, Dario Franchitti and Sam Hornish Jr. who spent little-to-no time in developmental series and, though progressing in their own rites, have taken some hard licks.

Speed realizes the transition to the Cup Series is difficult and he has watched a handful of open-wheelers fail completely. He's not worried; Speed says he has time as well as youth on his side.

"I'm only 25 and you learn better and quicker when you're younger," he said.

Meanwhile, one race at a time, he is transforming his driving styles and abilities all while adapting to the challenges that lie ahead.

But he certainly won't compromise his personal style in the process.

He won't conform to the NASCAR's sponsor-friendly dress code and won't support any product lines he doesn't believe in or value.

For Speed, it's all about self-expression, and the car he drives is a catalyst for that expression.

"I can say you won't ever see Tide painted on the side of my helmet," he said.

You can take the man out of Europe, but you can't take European influences out of this American racecar driver.