Perched on my dad’s shoulders, I observed quietly as he strategically navigated the aisles of Home Depot. 

My dad, tunnel-visioned, crossing things off his to-do list. 

Me, a carefree toddler focused on nothing in particular besides the store.

Most top shelves at Home Depot were adorned with overstock. One aisle’s top shelf was stocked with NASCAR Diecast Cars. 

Tony Stewart’s #20 Home Depot car became my first love in that instant.

“Daddy, car.” 

“Yes, car,” he replied.

“DADDY, CAR!!”

My dad bought me that model car.

Millions of virtual and real laps later – I believe it was my destiny to have been at Home Depot that day.

My dad later brought me to the local kart track at 4 years old. 

We turned a limited budget into about 6 months of racing. 

My world was lit on fire. 

I spent my childhood Sundays laying on the kitchen counter (you read that right) while my abuelo conquered the sofa watching baseball and basketball. 

I watched NASCAR greats Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson, and Jeff Gordon race during their prime years.

Basketball, flag football, and video game racing were the only options that fit our budget. 

In 9th grade, my single mom’s economic situation was improving, while my desire to race only became stronger. 

I lobbied my mother to inscribe me in an entry-level go kart league, where I won the first championship I competed in.

Although indoor karting was fun, I had to move up to outdoor karting to make a name for myself. 

After coming across a deal on Groupon, we discovered International Racing – a growing go-kart team based at Homestead-Miami Speedway that cost $600 per month. 

Carlos and Dario, two middle-aged Argentinian racers showed up to our house and tried to sell us on their team. 

I was skeptical even at 15 that the team would provide a good experience, but my mom’s compass was finely tuned, and we had a good feeling after the meeting.

I competed and finished highly in local, regional, national, and even the world’s most prestigious races with International Racing before moving to the nation’s #1 team – Ocala Gran Prix. 

I was offered a partial scholarship to race with teammates Kyle Kirkwood, Oliver Askew, and Ryan Norberg. The scholarship program folded shortly before going to college.

At Florida State University I raced while studying, winning almost 40 races. I was selected to drive in the NASCAR Euro Series Recruitment Program in 2020, logging the fastest laps amongst all selected drivers. 

I was selected by NASCAR Euro Series CEO Jerome Galpin to receive a full season half-scholarship to race at Hendriks Motorsport. However, we didn’t have the means to fund the other half, so I had to decline the opportunity.

I continued racing until late 2021 when I graduated FSU and pursued new opportunities outside racing. 

In 2022, working normal jobs, I decided never to let money get in the way of my dreams again. I moved to Charlotte, NASCAR’s hometown, to work at a NASCAR team. 

I worked at Rackley WAR, a NASCAR team, where I did it all. Sweeping up shop, cleaning the racecars from bumper-to-bumper, pit crewing, scrubbing down the hauler.

Hilariously enough, I learned what I didn’t want to do there – be a NASCAR pit crew. 

I met with Willie Allen, owner of the team and former NASCAR driver, and asked him for some advice on getting to actually DRIVE the cars.

He, like others in the industry, advised me to build value by cultivating an audience and a following. Something a brand could attach itself onto to increase their sales. 

Pit crewing could earn me a one-off opportunity to drive, but building a long term, sustainable driving career starts on social media today. 

So I transitioned my efforts directly to social media, and this is where my story is currently. I’m currently on the rise as a YouTube creator, where I host the ZBC Podcast, and produce various types of NASCAR content. 

My goal is to become the number 1 NASCAR YouTuber, and leverage a massive audience into sponsorships, and get myself back in the race seat. 

I’m investing in myself and taking risks. I’ve got a team of employees behind me and we are coming for the top, together.

I don’t know many drivers who’ve taken this non-family-money route to the top, but I’m aiming to blaze a brand new trail and change the game. 

I know I have developed the on-track skill to become one of the world’s best drivers and win NASCAR championships. 

Once I get to NASCAR, I have a simple mission, and that’s to empower kids in a position like I was to succeed – middle class kids with top 1% dreams. 

I believe NASCAR and most motorsports’ talent pools are severely broken. 

Money talks way too much, and trust fund kids are 99% of this generation’s drivers.

NASCAR is dying right now as a direct result. There’s a severe lack of personality in the sport. 

The 90’s and 00’s driver personalities like Dale Sr., Tony Stewart, and Jeff Gordon, were absolutely on fire. 

That’s why TV ratings and attendance were breaking records back then. 

Now, we are suffering from a severe lack of personality due to rich teenagers being the only drivers who can land a ride. 

My mission once I break into NASCAR is simple: FUND THE TEAMS. 

Most NASCAR teams operate at a substantial financial loss, so they’re forced to select drivers who bring in the most $$$. 

This is the only way for teams to avoid bankruptcy. 

Why?

Unlike other sports leagues, NASCAR teams do not receive enough money through the TV deals. 

They cannot operate profitably and therefore are forced to turn their backs on the best personalities and skill sets in favor of rich drivers. 

That’s why fans complain of vanilla, bland drivers, scared to say or do anything controversial that might upset their corporate donors.

Sound like D.C.? 

Even worse, rich kids who never had to build personality and character to climb the ladder.

We need controversy, fired-up drivers. That’s what brings success to the UFC, boxing, and even politics. 

It’s about eyeballs – we’re in an ATTENTION ECONOMY. 

I aim to make my voice heard when I’m in a position to. 

I’m not afraid of the repercussions of bucking the trend. I never aim to be a part of this “establishment”. I aim to influence NASCAR to be more like other meritocratic sports leagues. 

I will be a thorn in the side of those who think we are good like this. 

We’re not. 

I want to be the race teams’ loudest voice and convince the NASCAR bureaucracy we are better off by fixing this broken system, and allowing the best talent possible to get to the top. 

The fans want to see one thing – exciting drivers. Having that will lead to more views, more ticket sales, higher ratings, and by extension, more valuable TV deals. 

A bigger splash in the conversation of American sports. 

When was the last time you saw a notable driver make SportsCenter?

I’m on a mission to explode on social media and become a force to be reckoned with in American racing. By forming value-driven, symbiotic relationships with partners who share my mentality and spirit.  

See you soon, 

Zach.