Christian PaHud and Patrick Staropoli – 2013 PEAK Stock Car Dream Challenge Winner – are our next guests on Fan4Racing Fan2Fan NASCAR & Race Talk on Monday, August 4th, 2014 at 8:45 pm ET. Call 347-996-5176 during the LIVE broadcast with any questions/comments for Christian PaHud and Patrick Staropoli.
The checkered flag is out on the 2014 PEAK Stock Car Dream Challenge. After 18 finalists put their skills to the test during a rigorous three-day, on-track racing competition in Charlotte, N.C., PEAK® Antifreeze &_Coolant and Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR) are proud to announce Christian PaHud of Dayton, Ohio as the PEAK Stock Car Dream Challenge winner of a PEAK racing sponsorship in an upcoming NASCAR K&N Pro Series race.
After submitting a video entry – view below – PaHud started his journey from a pool of hundreds of aspiring racers to compete as one of 18 finalists with professional guidance from Michael Waltrip, Clint Bowyer, Brian Vickers, Danica Patrick and Jeff Burton, for a chance to win a PEAK racing sponsorship. The three-day competition tested the finalists through short-track, road course, speedway, car control, dirt track, and endurance racing, along with marketing and communication elements critical to the sponsorship-driven sport.
“We were very impressed with the raw talent that all 18 finalists had this year at the PEAK Stock Car Dream Challenge, but Christian’s on-track ability and poise as a young driver brought him to the top,” said Bryan Emrich, Chief Marketing Office for PEAK. “Christian has a lot of potential to excel in this sport and we’re confident that he’ll make the most out of this opportunity.”
As a result of winning the PEAK Stock Car Dream Challenge, PEAK is providing PaHud with the opportunity to qualify and race in a Bill McAnally Racing NASCAR K&N Pro Series car on October 11th at All American Speedway in Roseville, Calif., alongside teammate and fellow competitor, Michael Waltrip himself.
PaHud, 21 is a third generation driver who has committed his life both on and off the track to racing. Residing in North Carolina by way of Dayton, Ohio, he’s now racing stock cars in the Southeast Limited Late Model Series and is pursuing his Associates Degree in Applied Science. PaHud started his first go-kart race on his fourth birthday, and following races, would often climb out of his go-kart and into his car seat for the ride home. He worked his way up through legends cars and late models, and has more than 250 career races under his belt.
“Winning the PEAK Stock Car Dream Challenge is the highlight of my racing career. Knowing that PEAK, Michael Waltrip and Clint Bowyer were watching me and believe that I have what it takes to make it big is a huge honor,” said Christian PaHud. “PEAK has given me an unbelievable opportunity, and I’m ready to get out there and win for them. My chance is here and it’s now.”
Michael Waltrip, founder and co-owner of MWR, added,
“Michael Waltrip Racing appreciates what everyone at PEAK does to put this Challenge on. There are not a lot of opportunities like that in this sport, and PEAK has proven that this program really works. It was an intense competition this year, but Christian’s speed and car control really made him stand out among the 18 finalists. I believe that Christian has every chance of winning in the NASCAR K&N series just like Patrick Staropoli, last year’s winner, did at Irwindale.”
PEAK has been actively involved in motorsports for more than 30 years, showcasing the excellence and competitive quality of its family of brands through NASCAR, the NHRA, the TORC short course off-road series, and more. In 2012, PEAK joined forces with Michael Waltrip Racing to become a primary sponsor on Clint Bowyer’s No. 15 Toyota. The company’s BlueDEF® brand was the primary sponsor on Michael Waltrip’s No. 66 Toyota at NASCAR Sprint Cup races in Daytona and Talladega this season. PEAK is also featured as an associate sponsor on the No. 55 MWR car.
The 2014 PEAK Stock Car Dream Challenge premiered on August 2nd at 9PM ET on Velocity during Dream Car Week. For more information and exclusive behind-the-scenes PEAK Stock Car Dream Challenge content, follow @PEAKAuto on Twitter and check out Facebook.com/PEAKAuto.