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“I relax and take life easy,” said Speed, who maintains a home in Austria as well as Charlotte, N.C. “It’s a very small world here in NASCAR in general. There’s a feeling for what’s acceptable. You bring something in from a different direction, a different culture, and it’s crazy. Everyone gets crazy that I’m getting my toenails done.

“It comes down to being a small world here. It’s in its own small box, and I’ll never be there. I love the sport, the atmosphere is awesome, I have a ton of respect for the drivers, and it’s a ton of fun, but outside of this, I’ll have a different life. I’ll have interests that will seem absurd to some people.”

Of course, Speed is like every other driver in that he is all about speed and competing.

He will compete twice this weekend at Michigan International Speedway, on Friday in the ARCA race and in Saturday’s Craftsman Truck race. Speed, driving a Toyota for Eddie Sharp Racing, won the ARCA race earlier this year at Kansas, and he drives a Toyota truck for Bill Davis Racing.

“He’s out there,” Davis said of Speed, laughing. “He’s great. I really enjoy him, and he’s obviously a talent — he’s the real deal. Fortunately for Scott he’s extremely young, he’s been to Formula One, so he knows all different levels of racing.

“He’s learning, and he’s got a great attitude. He’s going to be here a long, long time. The biggest thing he’s got going for him, he has a company like Red Bull Racing behind him.”

Speed won the Red Bull Driver’s search, the energy drink’s version of “American Idol” six years ago. The intention was to put an American driver in Formula One, which Speed accomplished in 2006, becoming the first American since Michael Andretti in 1993 to compete. In 2007, however, Speed and his F1 team mutually decided to split.

With Red Bull Racing already involved in NASCAR Sprint Cup racing, Speed was able to find a home in NASCAR. He could have gone open-wheel racing in the IndyCar series, an option that would have felt more familiar racing-wise, but Speed wanted something different.

“This is like starting a new career and a new life,” Speed said. “I’m a good race-car driver. I have a great foundation. I know I have a lot to learn, but to change your art is awesome. To be able to go in and say, ‘I’m so far from being the best guy but I have an awesome opportunity,’ that’s great, and I’m just trying to experience all I can.

“Honestly, people make this stock car racing more difficult than it is. People like Kyle (Busch) are on a different planet than I am. He does stuff with a truck I may never be able to do. But if you have the opportunity to learn it, it’s only two corners, it’s so repetitious, you’ll get it. I’m confident I’ll be able to make a successful Cup career.”

When will Speed venture into Sprint Cup racing? He isn’t sure, and he isn’t interested in rushing things. Speed said he will probably test a Cup car later this year, but right now, he’s happy honing his skills in ARCA and the Craftsman Truck series.

“I’m not in any rush,” Speed said. “For me, the longer I wait, the better. I know there’s a Cup car waiting for me. Until then, the more racing I can do in Truck and ARCA, the better. I’m loving it.

“I would love my Cup racing to be as late as possible. I am very positive Red Bull is putting me in a Cup car before I want to go. It’s really nice right now. I can run at the front of the field, I can win. It’s fun. As soon as you get to Cup, you’ll be wanting to get into top 20 right away, then the top 10, the pressures will be different. It will be Formula One-esque.”

And while all this racing stuff is going on, Speed intends to indulge his other interests. Don’t be surprised if you see an interlocking “S” logo on a clothing line near you.

“I love fashion,” Speed said. “I love putting clothes together. I enjoy matching colors and styles. I’ve changed styles so much. At the moment, it might be more punk rock and then it might go back to more classy, more Prada.

“I want to be the Louis Vuitton of NASCAR merchandise. My stuff will be very nice. I just want something trendy.”

Ready or not, NASCAR, Scott Speed is here.

“We need somebody wearing Capri pants in the garage,” Davis said, laughing. “He’s a breath of fresh air.”