15 Finalists Named in $125,000 "Search For A Champion" Contest

15 Finalists Named in $125,000 “Search For A Champion” Contest

Jason Reiss
February 22, 2013

Federal Mogul’s Champion brand of spark plugs, wiper blades, and chemical additives supports the grassroots racing scene, and the company has ponied up big to support those racers for the 2013 season by offering up $125,000 in sponsorship cash in their “Search For A Champion” racing sponsorship contest. Each of the fifteen finalists snags a cool $5k sponsorship from Champion brand, with the chance to earn the contest’s $50,000 grand prize sponsorship. Voting for the grand prize starts Friday, February 22, at www.alwaysachampion.com.

Champion spokesperson and NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Kevin Harvick announced the finalists this morning at Daytona International Speedway. Each finalist was selected from a pool of over 160 racers and teams who submitted their two-minute video entries to the Champion website. Over 81,000 votes were cast by racers, fans, and members of the Champion community, and Harvick led the final judging.

The 2013 “Search for a Champion” finalists are:

Kolby Araki – Clovis, CA – USAC Sprint Car

Cody Correia – Lake Elsinore, CA – Motorcycle/Motocross

Jason Feger – Bloomington, IL – Dirt Late Model

Molly Helmuth – Seattle, WA – Super Late Mod

Ted Hodgdon – Danbury, CT – Junior Outlaw Kart

Jolly Rogers Racing – Des Moines, WA – Jet Sprint Boat

Andy Lieders – Colby, WI – Snowmobile/Snocross

Tristan Nunez – Boca Raton, FL – Prototype Lite

D.J. Osborne – Lehi, UT – Super Late Model

Bobby Pierce – Oakwood, IL – Dirt Late Model

Carl Rydquist, Redondo Beach, CA, Time Attack & Drifting

Donnie Steward – West Burlington, IA – Dirt Winged Sprint Car

Tyler Tanner – Auburn, WA -Straight Rail Late Model

Taylor Toftemark – Castle Rock, WV- Top Alcohol Jr. Dragster

Wes White – Pacoima, CA – Vintage Motorcycle

Federal-Mogul also announced five “Honorable Mention” winners, each of whom will receive a $500 Visa Gift Card. They are: Alex Cognac, Marvin, NC; Sierra Jackson, Middleton, ID; Nick Lascuola, Abington, MA; Jeremy Lowe, Sarasota, FL; and Pittbull Motorsports, Bismarck, ND.

Anyone can vote for their favorite entrant in the $50,000 grand-prize round of the “Search for a Champion” contest by registering at www.alwaysachampion.com. Those who register and vote will automatically be entered into a sweepstakes for one of 200 free Champion T-shirts as well as posters autographed by Harvick. Voting is open February 22 through March 24, 2013, and Harvick will announce the $50,000 “Champion’s champion” at 9 a.m. E.T. on April 2. Check it out, support a grassroots racer today.