Zach Veach
Encyclopedia
Zach Veach is an American auto racing
driver, currently competing in the Star Mazda Championship for Andretti Autosport. Born and raised in Stockdale, Ohio, Veach was named to CNN
's list of "Intriguing People" in May 2010., is the national spokesperson for FocusDriven, and released his first book, "99 Things Teens Wish They Knew Before Turning 16" on NBC
's The Today Show
on March 2, 2011.
's dad, Dave Fisher. In 19 months Veach had gone from go-karts to the cockpit of an open-wheel Formula BMW
machine. Near the end of 2009, while testing a Formula BMW, Atlantic Championship team owner Eric Jensen
signed Veach to his team for the 2010 Atlantic Championship season
. In early March 2010, the Series halted operations.
In February 2010, Veach was picked up by BRANDed
talent agency and is repped by veteran motorsports agent/manager Klint Briney, who long oversaw the career of Sarah Fisher.
for Andretti Autosport, Veach had 10 top-five finishes and four podium results. Despite entering the series after the season-opener (St. Pete) and therefore missing out on two rounds of race points, he managed to finish fifth in the driver championship point standings. His performances also contributed to Andretti Autosport securing the team championship for the 2010 season. He was also named a semi-finalist for Sports Illustrated
's annual Sports Kid of the Year
award.
On December 9, Andretti Autosport announced they had re-signed Veach to again compete in the USF2000 National Championship and WinterFest in 2011.
In January 2011, Veach won the 2011 U.S. F2000 Winterfest
- a winter race series held in Florida. Veach won two of the five races and won the title by six points over Andretti teammate Spencer Pigot. Veach won the 2011 U.S. F2000 National Championship
season opener at Sebring International Raceway. However the win would be his only one of the season as he finished fourth in series points..
in August 2011. He also competed in the series' season finale at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
, where he finished third.
's focus on the No Phone Zone
program. At the program he met Jennifer Smith, founder and president of FocusDriven, the official beneficiary from Winfrey's No Phone Zone, and later became FocusDriven's national spokesperson. In May 2010, Veach campaigned to gain support from professional racecar drivers to support Winfrey's No Phone Zone. Veach announced on June 4, 2010, he had added 33 Indy 500 drivers support of the No Phone Zone, including that of Danica Patrick
and Helio Castroneves
, among others.
In July 2010, Veach released an anti-texting app, urTXT, which automatically responds to a text message received by the phone.
On Sept. 21, 2010, Veach attended the 2010 National Distracted Driving Summit where he was honored by United States Secretary of Transportation
, Ray LaHood
, in addition to the Jonas Brothers
and Jordan Sparks for their collective efforts to put an end to distracted driving.
Auto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
driver, currently competing in the Star Mazda Championship for Andretti Autosport. Born and raised in Stockdale, Ohio, Veach was named to CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
's list of "Intriguing People" in May 2010., is the national spokesperson for FocusDriven, and released his first book, "99 Things Teens Wish They Knew Before Turning 16" on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
's The Today Show
The Today Show
Today is an iconic American morning news and talk show airing every morning on NBC. Debuting on January 14, 1952, it was the first of its genre on American television and in the world. The show is also the fourth-longest running American television series...
on March 2, 2011.
Early career
Veach began racing at age 12 when he was "discovered" by current IZOD IndyCar Series team owner Sarah FisherSarah Fisher
Sarah Marie Fisher is a retired American professional racecar driver who competed in the IZOD IndyCar Series and Indianapolis 500...
's dad, Dave Fisher. In 19 months Veach had gone from go-karts to the cockpit of an open-wheel Formula BMW
Formula BMW
Formula BMW is a junior racing formula for single seater cars. It is positioned at the bottom of the motorsport career ladder alongside the longer established Formula Ford category...
machine. Near the end of 2009, while testing a Formula BMW, Atlantic Championship team owner Eric Jensen
Eric Jensen
Eric Jensen is a Canadian former professional race car driver from Toronto who competed in the Champ Car Atlantic Series series and Indy Lights series from 1997 to 2005. During that time he made 40 Atlantics starts, usually on a part-time basis, making his most season starts in 2003 and finishing...
signed Veach to his team for the 2010 Atlantic Championship season
2010 Atlantic Championship season
The 2010 IMSA Cooper Tires Atlantic Championship season was due to be the 37th Atlantic Championship season, and the second one under the sanctioning of the International Motor Sports Association...
. In early March 2010, the Series halted operations.
In February 2010, Veach was picked up by BRANDed
BRANDed
BRANDed, LLC. is a Sports, Public Relations, Marketing and Management agency headquartered in West Palm Beach, FL. BRANDed represents professional athletes and emerging stars primarily in American open-wheel racing...
talent agency and is repped by veteran motorsports agent/manager Klint Briney, who long oversaw the career of Sarah Fisher.
U.S. F2000 National Championship
In his first year as a driver in the U.S. F2000 National ChampionshipU.S. F2000 National Championship
Cooper Tires presents the U.S. F2000 National Championship powered by Mazda is an American racing series using the American variation of the Formula Ford formula, "F2000", that resumed operation for the 2010 season...
for Andretti Autosport, Veach had 10 top-five finishes and four podium results. Despite entering the series after the season-opener (St. Pete) and therefore missing out on two rounds of race points, he managed to finish fifth in the driver championship point standings. His performances also contributed to Andretti Autosport securing the team championship for the 2010 season. He was also named a semi-finalist for Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
's annual Sports Kid of the Year
Sports Kid of the Year
"SportsKid of the Year" was introduced by Sports Illustrated magazine after the highly successful Sportsman of the Year award was introduced in 1954...
award.
On December 9, Andretti Autosport announced they had re-signed Veach to again compete in the USF2000 National Championship and WinterFest in 2011.
In January 2011, Veach won the 2011 U.S. F2000 Winterfest
2011 U.S. F2000 Winterfest
The 2011 U.S. F2000 Cooper Tires Winterfest was the first winter racing series promoted by the U.S. F2000 National Championship. It consisted of five races held during two race meets in January 2011. It served as preparation for the 2011 U.S. F2000 National Championship and was contested using 2010...
- a winter race series held in Florida. Veach won two of the five races and won the title by six points over Andretti teammate Spencer Pigot. Veach won the 2011 U.S. F2000 National Championship
2011 U.S. F2000 National Championship
The 2011 U.S. F2000 National Championship is a season of the U.S. F2000 National Championship, an open wheel auto racing series that is the first step in IndyCar's Road to Indy ladder. It is the second full season of the series since its revival in 2010. It follows the first 2011 U.S. F2000...
season opener at Sebring International Raceway. However the win would be his only one of the season as he finished fourth in series points..
Star Mazda Championship
Veach made his Star Mazda Championship debut for Andretti Autosport at Infineon RacewayInfineon Raceway
Infineon Raceway, formerly Sears Point Raceway, is a road course and drag strip located on the landform known as Sears Point in the southern Sonoma Mountains near Sonoma, California, USA. The course is a complex series of twists and turns that go up and down the hills...
in August 2011. He also competed in the series' season finale at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca is a paved road racing track used for both auto racing and motorcycle racing, originally constructed in 1957 near both Salinas and Monterey, California, USA....
, where he finished third.
Distracted driving campaign
Veach has been very outspoken about his interest in putting an end to distracted driving. On April 30, 2010, Veach attended the taping of The Oprah Winfrey ShowThe Oprah Winfrey Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show is an American syndicated talk show hosted and produced by its namesake Oprah Winfrey. It ran nationally for 25 seasons beginning in 1986, before concluding in 2011. It is the highest-rated talk show in American television history....
's focus on the No Phone Zone
No Phone Zone
No Phone Zone is a programme developed by Oprah Winfrey and released on March 6, 2010, about how to teach people not to talk or text on their cell phone while they are driving. The program was shown at the beginning and end of The Oprah Winfrey Show and was sponsored by Liberty Mutual and Sprint...
program. At the program he met Jennifer Smith, founder and president of FocusDriven, the official beneficiary from Winfrey's No Phone Zone, and later became FocusDriven's national spokesperson. In May 2010, Veach campaigned to gain support from professional racecar drivers to support Winfrey's No Phone Zone. Veach announced on June 4, 2010, he had added 33 Indy 500 drivers support of the No Phone Zone, including that of Danica Patrick
Danica Patrick
Danica Sue Patrick is an American auto racing driver, model and advertising spokeswoman. She is the most successful woman in the history of American open-wheel racing, being the only woman to win in the IndyCar Series as well as holding the highest finish by a woman at the Indianapolis 500 of 3rd...
and Helio Castroneves
Hélio Castroneves
Hélio Castroneves is a Brazilian auto racing driver currently competing in the North American IndyCar Series. In IndyCar competition, Castroneves has 14 wins and 28 poles, and has never placed lower than sixth in the standings in a complete season of racing...
, among others.
In July 2010, Veach released an anti-texting app, urTXT, which automatically responds to a text message received by the phone.
On Sept. 21, 2010, Veach attended the 2010 National Distracted Driving Summit where he was honored by United States Secretary of Transportation
United States Secretary of Transportation
The United States Secretary of Transportation is the head of the United States Department of Transportation, a member of the President's Cabinet, and fourteenth in the Presidential line of succession. The post was created with the formation of the Department of Transportation on October 15, 1966,...
, Ray LaHood
Ray LaHood
Raymond H. "Ray" LaHood is a Republican politician from Illinois who is currently the United States Secretary of Transportation, having served since 2009. Previously, he represented the Illinois's 18th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives for seven terms .-Early life and...
, in addition to the Jonas Brothers
Jonas Brothers
The Jonas Brothers are an American boy band. The band gained its popularity from the Disney Channel children's television network. From the shore region of New Jersey, the band consists of three brothers: Paul Kevin Jonas II , Joseph Adam Jonas , and Nicholas Jerry Jonas...
and Jordan Sparks for their collective efforts to put an end to distracted driving.