Tristan Nunez, youngest sports car champion in history, is trying to win a much tougher competition—one based on audience appeal, not just racing skill.
The 17-year-old racing prodigy has been chosen as a finalist in the 2013 Champion Auto Parts “Search for Champion” contest; his video explaining what motivates him to be a champion is one of fifteen selected after a month of voting and judge’s review for the final phase of voting, which opened Feb. 22.
“I’m so stoked to be a finalist with Champion Spark Plugs,” said Nunez in a press statement. “We had a lot of fun creating the video at Petit Le Mans last year and I really thought it'd be awesome to be a part of the Champion family.
Nunez, a high-school junior from Florida, could make good use of the $50,000 top prize—he will probably be moving into the American Le Mans Series’ PC class.
“Being able to win this sponsorship would be huge for my program in 2013. With moving up another level in motorsports means more races and bigger budgets. This would be a huge help towards our racing budget for this year.”
Fans of Tristan Nunez can vote once a day at http://www.alwaysachampion.com/contest/entry/1384129.
The fifteen finalists compete in a wide variety of motorsports. Most of the finalists are oval racers, but a pair of drag racers, a motocross rider, a boat racer and a snowmobile racer are included. Nunez is one of three finalists in the Asphalt division, and the only road racer of the bunch.
