BRASELTON, Georgia—Tristan Nunez became the Cooper IMSA Lites champion Thursday at Road Atlanta with a hard-fought third-place finish in the season’s penultimate race last Thursday. In doing so the 16-year-old racer became the youngest sports car champion in the world.
Facing a field of older and more experienced drivers, the teenager racing sensation showed the skills which earned him the top spot: sent to the back of the field by an early penalty, Nunez passed almost every car in the race in just a few laps to finish on the podium and clinch the title.
Though no stranger to success—the Florida teen had 10 wins, 11 poles, and set seven track records in twelve races coming into the season finale—Nunez was still a little overwhelmed by his triumph the next day.
“Winning the championship still hasn’t sunk in yet. I can’t even find the words to describe how happy I am right now,” he said.
Nunez saw the significance of the title to his own career but also viewed in terms of how it would affect other fledgling race drivers. “I’m the only teenager that’s gone the road of sport car racing. I think it’s going to make a big impact that everybody sees, ‘This could be another way to go,’ rather than Road to Indy or something like that.
