August 24, 2020, St. Louis Region – Scott Connell, KSDK-TV’s chief meteorologist, has been named Official Meteorologist of World Wide Technology Raceway’s Bommarito Automotive Group 500 Mega Weekend, August 29-30. Connell has worked at the St. Louis NBC affiliate station since 1991. Connell’s Race Week Weather features will provide up-to-the-minute reports and forecasts for WWTR and its fans.
“I’m excited to forecast for the biggest sporting event of the year in St. Louis,” said Connell. “Weather can change quickly, so we will be continuously updating the forecast all week ahead of the race and through the last lap of the Bommarito 500 on Sunday.”
“It was every kid’s dream. Tons of snow and no school for a week! That was the defining moment that steered me toward a career in weather.”
When Scott was in eighth grade, a new television station was coming to town. He read in the newspaper they needed a meteorologist, so he put on his one navy blue blazer, gray pants, and a tie and walked down to the old drug store that was being remodeled into a television station. He was only 14, but he asked to speak with the general manager.
“I told him I wanted to do the weekend weather. I found myself sitting in the news director’s office explaining what I could do for them. They must have been amused because he asked me to write a resume.”
He still has that resume, and it lists as experience: none! The news director created a position for Scott, allowing him to come in each week and research the high and low temperatures, giving him his first big break in TV.
“This was before computers, which can now do in a few minutes what took me weeks to accomplish. Even though I wasn’t on-air, I got a great education about weather from meteorologists Greg Fishel, John Bulatewicz, and even Mike Seidel of Weather Channel fame.”
Scott has an M.S. in Geoscience from Mississippi State University and earned a B.S. in Meteorology at North Carolina State University. While getting his undergraduate degree he worked part-time for TV stations in New Bern and Raleigh, getting great work experience. His first time on-air is a moment he’ll never forget.
“My first time on-air was at the NBC station in Raleigh. All of my friends from college were watching, and I thought my heart was going to pound out of my chest. But I got some great experience there and some great guidance from many people along the way who helped me get to St. Louis.”
Scott started at 5 On Your Side in 1991, working alongside Today in St. Louis co-anchors Art Holliday and Jennifer Blome.
“I’ve been working with the best, both behind-the-scenes and on-camera since I got here. I’m very fortunate to have a job that I love and family who supports me.”
Follow Scott on Twitter at @scottontvKSDK.
World Wide Technology Raceway
Bommarito Automotive Group 500 Mega Weekend schedule
SATURDAY, AUGUST 29
7: 30 a.m. – Spectator gates open
8 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES rookies practice
8:30 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice (all cars)
9:45 a.m. – Indy Pro 2000 Series practice
10:30 a.m. – ARCA Menards Series practice
11:30 a.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES qualifying
1 p.m. – Indy Pro 2000 race (55 laps or 40 minutes)
2:25 p.m. – Bommarito Automotive Group 500 opening ceremonies begin
2:40 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline (200 laps, 250 miles)
5:15 p.m. – ARCA Menards Series Dutch Boy 150
SUNDAY, AUGUST 30
7:30 a.m. – Spectator gates open
9 a.m. – Vintage Indy Registry Open Wheel Icons on track
10:30 a.m. – NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series opening ceremonies begin
11 a.m. – NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series iHeart 200 (160 laps, 200 miles)
2:25 p.m. – Bommarito Automotive Group 500 opening ceremonies begin
2:40 p.m. – NTT INDYCAR SERIES Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline (200 laps, 250 miles)
Schedule subject to change.
For tickets or additional information on World Wide Technology Raceway, please call (618) 215-8888. Follow WWTR on Facebook, Parler, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram.
About World Wide Technology Raceway
World Wide Technology Raceway is the home of INDYCAR, NASCAR and NHRA racing in the St. Louis region. Located just five minutes from downtown St. Louis and covering more than 600 acres, WWTR is the largest outdoor entertainment facility in the area. WWTR’s facilities include a 1/4-mile drag strip, 1.25-mile superspeedway, recently-expanded 2.0-mile road course, a state-of-the-art karting facility, a 14-acre, multi-purpose dirt off-road venue and the Gateway Drive-In Theater at World Wide Technology Raceway (a drive-in entertainment venue able to accommodate 3,000 cars). WWTR acquired Gateway National Golf Links, adjacent to the speedway property, in 2019. WWTR was the recipient of the 2017 Outstanding Facility of the Year Award from the Race Track Business Conference and the 2017 Spirit of St. Louis Award from the St. Louis Attractions Association. In 2018, owner and CEO Curtis Francois received the Innovator Award from the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission in recognition of his work for restoring World Wide Technology Raceway (known then as Gateway Motorsports Park) to prominence.
