The first two winners of the Champion® Spark Plug brand’s annual $125,000 “Search for a Champion” motorsports sponsorship contest added to their growing lists of honors by posting impressive victories in key early-season national drag and dirt racing events last weekend.
Inaugural Search for a Champion grand-prize winner Corey Michalek of Michalek Brothers Racing made the most of his NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster (T/AD) racing debut by winning the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway, Charlotte, N.C. Michalek, who shares driving duties in the Champion-sponsored Michalek Brothers Racing dragster, beat T/AD veteran Bill Reichert in Sunday’s semi-final and took the final round over Brandon Booher.
In Late Model DIRT competition, 2013 Search for a Champion grand-prize winner Bobby Pierce won Friday night’s feature event at Farmer City (Ill.) Raceway, then captured Saturday’s UMP DIRTcar Spring Nationals title at Eldora Speedway, Rossberg, Ohio. The 17-year-old, victorious in three consecutive events, is the youngest driver to win at Eldora.
A third Champion-sponsored grassroots racer – Daniel Burkett – dominated the action in Formula Atlantic competition with two poles and two wins in Rounds 1 and 2 of the 2014 Atlantic Championship Series at Road Atlanta, Braselton, Ga.
“It’s a thrill to watch these grassroots racers thrive with the support of the iconic Champion brand,” says Federal-Mogul Global Digital Marketing Manager Jessica Wynn. “Our grassroots sponsorship program is all about helping talented young drivers take the next step in building successful racing careers. Corey, Bobby and Daniel exemplify the talent and passion that have made Champion one of the world’s most respected brands.”
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