Off the track, Ben is currently attending Butler University where he studies mechanical engineering and economics. He also manages a 100 foot motor yacht in his home town of Harbor Springs, Michigan.  He is also a ski instructor in the winters at Nubs Nob in Harbor Springs.

 

In 2021,  alongside his own racing, Ben was hired as an Engineering intern/Jr. Data Analysis engineer for Arrow McLaren SP and traveled with the team during the NTT Indycar Series season. During this  time, Ben was in charge of identifying (using data acquisition software) sectors on track in which the drivers were lacking pace, doing research, and creating reports for the drivers and performance engineers to help find more speed.  Ben was also a tire handler during pit stops for the #7 McLaren driven by Felix Rosenqvist.

 

Ben started the business Varner Driver Development as a program to help younger drivers succeed in the junior ranks of karting. Through this program, many of Ben's students went on to be successful at local and regional levels of karting.  The program includes driver coaching, data analysis and mechanic services.

 

Ben worked for the Rahal Letterman Lanigan Indycar team during the month of May for the Indycar Grand Prix and the prestigious Indianapolis 500 in 2018 and 2019.  He worked as a mechanic in the aerodynamics department of the car, as well as taking tire degradation and durometer data and analyzing it for the engineers.

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Ben also worked for Abel Motorsports in the 2020 F3 Americas Championship, working as a mechanic and a jr data analysis engineer.