Balancing books and podiums: Ontario Tech’s Mac Clark races toward his future

Balancing the demands of professional racing with the rigours of university life is no easy task, yet Ontario Tech University Automotive Engineering student Mac Clark is proving he can excel at both.

Competing in the USF Pro 2000 Championship junior IndyCar racing series, Clark secured multiple podium finishes during the 2025 season, including a third-place result at Toronto’s Race One in July. While he’s spent the last three years pursuing his degree in Ontario Tech’s Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, he recently took a break before his fourth year of studies to move to Indianapolis in pursuit of a full-time racing career. Clark shares how he’s managed the challenges of life in the fast lane alongside his classroom and academic commitments.

Tell us about your racing. What level of racing is IndyCar?
On this side of the planet, IndyCar is the top level of open wheel racing in North America. The Indy 500 is still pretty big, garners a lot of spectators, and those guys that race in IndyCar, the top 15 guys, make really good money to be professional race car drivers. I’m kind of in a ladder system on my way up to IndyCar, hopefully one day in the next two to three years.

What drew you to racing?
I was lucky to be exposed to the sport when I was young. I didn’t know this until a while after I started racing, but my grandparents on both sides of my family raced at a club or regional level in go-karting. And then when I was younger, my father was quite good. He was three-time Canadian champion and represented Team Canada at the world finals.

When I was six to eight-years-old, I tried soccer and baseball, and they just weren’t my thing. I remember asking my dad when I was 10 if I could try karting. It took some convincing. Initially, it was just a hobby, but as I started racing more, the competitor in me grew and I could see myself improving. That hooked me.

At 14-years-old I won my first big international karting race in Miami, Florida. The lightbulb in my head went off that day: ‘Maybe I can make a living of this and be a race car driver’. That’s when the real journey started.

You must travel a lot. Do you enjoy that?
It’s a double-edged sword, but I always remind myself how lucky I am. Racing has taken me as far as Italy, Germany, France, the United States, as well as eastern Canada. I’ve been very lucky to travel a lot at a young age.

You’ve studied Automotive Engineering at Ontario Tech. Was that a natural choice?
It’s my one focus. I made a deal with my parents when I was 14 or 15 and decided to get serious about racing. They said I had to get an education, and I agreed. Ontario Tech is the only accredited Automotive Engineering program in the country where you can get a Bachelor of Engineering. It seemed like a good fit.

My backup plan is that if I don’t win the Indy 500 from inside the cockpit, I’ll be standing on the pit wall and still get my ring as an engineer. I want to be involved in racing one way or another.

Has your education influenced your passion for racing?
Absolutely. It gives me a broader spectrum of knowledge, especially communicating with high-level race engineers. I signed with a new team, Exclusive Autosport, and we had a new head engineer, Joe D´Agostino, who worked for the Andretti IndyCar team for nine years. I found my education helped me converse with him on a higher level compared to other drivers. It helps build trust faster, which is important for making a fast car.

Besides your family, do you have other influences in racing?
For me, it was Daniel Ricciardo. He was a big figure in F1. He was a happy-go-lucky guy outside of the car but when he was strapped in, he was ferocious.  I was lucky enough to meet him. On the IndyCar side, James Hinchcliffe was a prolific Canadian driver I looked up to. Now I’m lucky to be mentored by him. He helps me with track walks, post-race reports, or just questions. I’m very lucky to have that support.

When you’re not racing, what do you do to relax?
I would say I have two passions. One is fitness. My fitness journey started at Ontario Tech. We have a wonderful Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre, and I worked there in 2025. Lifting is something that brings me inner peace and quiets the thoughts, and sometimes is the highlight of my day. The second one: I love American football. I have a massive love for the Buffalo Bills and Josh Allen. If I’m not racing on Sunday, I’m watching football.

What’s your mindset when competing in such a high-octane sport?
It’s relatable across sports even though it might look different from the outside. No matter the sport, to compete at the top you need to outwork everyone. That’s the mindset I always try to stay in. Every day needs to be dedicated to getting to the Indy 500 and getting to your dream.

Inside the car, you need to believe in yourself because if you don’t, nobody will. I think Max Verstappen said it best: “I am the best driver because I believe I am.” I look at myself as my biggest competitor. If I perform at my best, there’s no reason I shouldn’t win the race.

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