Nick Persing is a third year student studying business administration. He’s also a professional racecar driver who has competed around the world. His racing fuels a passion for speed, but his business studies are fueling a long-term vision.
“My favorite part about racing is the adrenaline rush. I’ve played a lot of different sports, but there has never been a feeling that comes close to leading a race when you have 34 guys behind you,” he said. “If you can conquer the pressure and win, it’s addicting.”
Persing’s obsession with cars started early. He bypassed typical toddler obsessions like dinosaurs or astronauts and was always laser-focused on cars. To kick off his career, he began go karting as a kid. After competing in the national go karting championships, Persing made the jump to cars at 14. Since then he has competed in a variety of racing series including Formula 3, a stepping stone to Formula 1.
However, balancing a demanding F3 schedule with college was difficult. Persing now drives for Wayne Taylor Racing, competing in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America series, which is mostly held during the summer, making it easier to manage his studies. He describes the series as the NBA G League, or a minor league team–it’s where drivers are scouted for prestigious endurance races like the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 24 Hours of Daytona.
“My hope is that if I perform well enough I’ll be pulled up to run in one of the endurance championships, or eventually move into the IMSA (International Motor Sports Association) SportsCar Championships,” he said. “Experience matters more than youth in racing, so I’m trying to get as much time in a car under my belt as possible so I’ll be ready when the opportunity comes along.”
Last year, Persing and his teammate placed second in the Super Trofeo World Finals Pro-Am division. Persing moved up to the Pro division this year. As he builds a successful racing career, he’s also building his business skills–it turns out, there’s a lot of crossover.
Drivers need more than just speed; they need to be in tune with how the car feels on the track, analytical to understand car performance, and they have to be able to communicate and collaborate with their team to help with car development. On top of that, drivers must know how to sell themselves and how to tell a good deal from a bad deal as they navigate team contracts. These skills align perfectly with Persing’s business coursework at Boise State.
“I know I want to work in the racing field even if I’m not driving a car. I’d love to be a team owner or general manager, and the best way to do that is with a business degree.” he said. “For those positions, people management, finance and working with numbers are a big part of what you do, so a business degree is a good fit.”
Persing ended up at Boise State somewhat by accident. He’s from a smaller town in California, and while on a road trip to tour the University of Utah, he stopped in Boise and immediately fell in love with the area because it felt like home.
“Last year it was like something finally clicked. It was one of the best seasons of my racing career. I won six races and had 10 podiums,” he said. “My whole life, racing was the only thing I wanted, but after coming to school I realized that doesn’t have to be the only option. It takes a lot of pressure off my shoulders and allows me to drive better knowing that racing isn’t the only thing I can do. A business degree is not a back-up plan–it’s security. Regardless of whether my dream of being a team owner works out, I’ll still have a bunch of options after I finish school.”
Follow Persing on Instagram and catch his 2025 race season streaming on Peacock and YouTube starting in March–he should be easy to spot in his Boise State branded helmet.