Nur was interested in racing since he was four years old when he lived in Germany. He moved to Texas with his family when he was 8 years old and he currently resides in Dallas suburb of Irving.
Nur graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations from American University in Washington, D.C. in 1998. He was 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.[citation needed]
Racing career
After graduating from college, Ali pursued a career racing by going to Skip Barber Racing School. When he completed the course and picked up his racing license, Ali took part in the Skip Barber Formula Dodge Southern Race Series and becoming the first racing driver from Pakistan. In 2000, Ali 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 stock car racing, and after a successful test for Cunningham Motorsports, Ali drove in the 2008 Daytona ARCA 200. In 2009, he drove again for Cunningham Motorsports. 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.