NASCAR's First Puerto Rican Driver Debuts Sunday
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
The world of NASCAR is about to get a little more Latino.
Victor Gonzalez Jr. has been racing as long as he can remember and on anything he could find that had a steering wheel.
But, short of money, he had to do some overtime trying to raise funds for his passion. “I started meeting new people in 2009 and got a break,” Gonzalez told Fox News Latino.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
This Sunday, in Sonoma, Calif., Gonzalez will make history as the first Caribbean-born racer to drive a stock car in an official Sprint Cup race.
The Sonoma Raceway will host the Toyota Save-Mart 350, where Gonzalez will face stock cars best racers including Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya.
“I just want to race smart and win for the team,” Gonzalez said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Gonzalez, 37, is from Puerto Rico where he worked for many years to break into the elite. Now he is finally getting a chance.
“I think God has helped me and opened the right doors up,” said Gonzalez. “This is going to be a showcase.”
Besides a win, what Gonzalez wants to accomplish is becoming a mainstay in America’s most popular motor sport.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
“NASCAR, they’ve been talking to me,” said Gonzalez. “This is amazing. I think NASCAR knows that I can help grow their fan base.”
Gonzalez is optimistic that he can make an impact and NASCAR could also benefit.
Follow us on twitter.com/foxnewslatino
Like us at facebook.com/foxnewslatino