Nur B. Ali

Nur B. Ali (born October 12, 1974 in Karachi, Pakistan) is a Pakistani-American racecar driver who drives in the ARCA Series for Cunningham Motorsports. He is the first Pakistani to become a professional racing driver, and a former two-time Southwest Formula Mazda Series Champion. Ali also drove in the A1GP for Team Pakistan.

Nur was interested in racing since he was 4 years old when he used to live in Germany. He would urge his father drive in excess of 100 mph on the German Autobahnen to overtake other cars. He moved to Texas with his family when he was 8 years old and he currently resides in Dallas suburb, Irving, Texas.

Nur has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the American University in Washington, D.C., 1998. Majored in International Relations, with a focus in U.S. Foreign Policy. Vice President of Washington, D.C. Federation of College Republicans in 1995 and interned for Congressman Joe Barton, R-Texas, in Washington, D.C. in 1995.

After graduating from college, he pursued a career racing by going to Skip Barber Racing School. When he completed the course and picked up his racing license, Nur took part in the Skip Barber Formula Dodge Southern Race Series and becoming the first racing driver from Pakistan. In 2000, Nur and his brother set up Ali Motorsports, so that he could compete in the Southwest Formula Mazda Series which he won in 2001 and 2002. Then in 2006, he joined racing series A1 Grand Prix where he raced for A1 Team Pakistan for a season. In late 2007, Nur decided to switch to Stockcar racing, and after a successful test for Cunningham Motorsports, the North Texan drove in the 2008 Daytona ARCA 200. In 2009, he is to drive again for Cunningham Motorsports.

He enjoys travelling and playing basketball and his favourite shows include Lost. The Shawshank Redemption is his favourite movie. He also enjoys listening to Hip-Hop and Rock. Nur is fluent in English, German and Urdu. After joining the ARCA RE/MAX Series, Texas Governor Rick Perry presented Ali with an official commendation, and the Mayor of the city of Southlake, Texas, proclaimed January 25, 2008, as Nur Ali day.

He always plays Friendster every day.

He is currently the Technical Officer of the Motorsport Pakistan (MAP).

Career results

• (1) = Team standings.

Complete A1 Grand Prix results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Career highlights

2011

• Attended NASCAR Rookie Orientation and Received NASCAR Camping World Truck Series License at Daytona.

2010

• Competed at the home track in Fort Worth, TX at Texas Motor Speedway in the ARCA RE/MAX Series.

2009

• Finished his second Daytona race in 38th after being caught in accident on lap 30 as he was in the top ten, but still clocks the 6th fastest lap.
• Competed in 3 ARCA RE/MAX Series Races.

2008

• Finishes overall third in Southwest Formula Mazda Series.
• Competed in his first the ARCA RE/MAX Series race at the Daytona ARCA 200, starting in 33rd position moved as high as 7th before damage in a pile-up, resulted in falling to 32nd and finishing 23rd. Was also consistently setting the fastest lap times.
• Joins ARCA RE/MAX Series and will race in the #45 car for Cunningham Motorsports Dodge, becoming the first Asian driver to race in the series.

2007

• Completed ARCA RE/MAX Series testing with Cunningham Motor Sports Dodge at the Daytona International Speedway and receives sponsorship from Tara Energy Group.
• Earned one 2nd place finish in the Southwest Formula Mazda Series.
• Earned one Top 10 (10th place) finish at the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport event in Durban, South Africa for A1 Team Pakistan.

2006

• Re-joined as A1 Grand Prix World Cup of Motorsport Driver for A1 Team Pakistan.
• Earned two 1st place finishes and two 3rd place finishes in the Southwest Formula Mazda Series.
• Earned three Pole Positions during qualifying in the Southwest Formula Mazda Series.
• Established Nur Ali Motorsports Academy (NAMA), the first professional racing school in Pakistan (under development).
• Co-founder of Motorsport Pakistan (MAP), the first motorsport program in Pakistan.
• Competed in the Star Mazda North American Championship Series

2005

• Second Driver for A1 Team Pakistan in the A1 Grand Prix World Cup of Motorsport Circuit.
• First Driver in all of A1 Grand Prix World Cup of Motorsport Circuit to be announced.
• Praised by Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf as a pioneer of motor racing for Pakistan.
• Completed Formula Three Testing at Pembrey Circuit - Wales, United Kingdom.
• Completed A1 Grand Prix Testing at Silverstone Circuit - Northamptonshire, United Kingdom.

2004

• Finished 17th in Southwest Formula Mazda Series due to a minor race injury early in the season
• Earned two 2nd place finishes and one 3rd place finish towards the end of the season in Southwest Formula Mazda Series

2003

• Completed Indy Lights Series Testing - Las Vegas Motor Speedway
• Finished 4th overall in Southwest Formula Mazda Series
• Earned one 2nd place and one 3rd place finish in Southwest Formula Mazda Series
• Invited by the Pakistani Ambassador to the United States Ashraf Jehangir Qazi to meet President General Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan in Los Angeles, California

2002

• Southwest Formula Mazda Series Champion
• Earned three 1st place finishes and two 2nd place finishes in Southwest Formula Mazda Series
• Earned a 3rd place finish in the Southwest Formula Mazda Two-Hour Endurance Race
• Completed NASCAR Nationwide Series testing - Texas Motor Speedway

2001

• Southwest Formula Mazda Series Champion
• Earned one 1st place, one 2nd place and three 3rd place finishes in Southwest Formula Mazda Series
• Runner-up overall in Legends Oval Race Series at Texas Motor Speedway's Summer Stampede
• Earned two 1st place finishes and one 3rd place finish in Legends Oval Race Series

2000

• Finished 5th overall in the first season of Southwest Formula Mazda Series
• Signed on with Budweiser/Ben E. Keith as major sponsor for the U.S. Southwest Region

1999

• Continued to compete in the Skip Barber Formula Dodge Southern Race Series
• Competed in Invitational Formula Renault Race - London, England

1998

• Successfully completed racing school at Skip Barber to start professional career
• Became first Pakistani race car driver to start competing professionally
• Competed in the Skip Barber Formula Dodge Southern Race Series

External links

• Nur Ali official homepage
• A1 Team Pakistan
• Official Racing Pakistan Website
• Racing background
• Ali's ARCA racing test drive
• Day named after Nur Ali in Southlake
• Nur Ali ARCA Profile
• Texas Auto Sports
• North Texan groundbreaking race car driver
• Another racing chapter begins for Pakistani driver
• Pakistan-born driver aims for NASCAR
• Daytona: Nur Ali race report