"Z-Man" Zach O'Connell Bicycles His Way At Fort Wayne Rumble
by Steve Pados, GA Motorsports Media

West Park, NY- Thirteen year old New York driving talent Zach O"Connell encountered his first ever indoor racing last weekend at the Fort Wayne Rumble and came away from the event proclaiming his first ever indoor event while full of fun and adventure, was certain he was not looking foward to doing the ordeal in the immediate future.

The "Z-Man" dazzled the huge Rumble crowd both days of the event with his bicycle lifts in the corners, and letting everyone in the arena know the Slingshot cars actually do have undercarriages. A couple of potential sponsors spoke with ZTO Motorsports owner and crew chief Paul O'Connell about the possibilty of taking advantage of the bottom of the car for advertising purposes.

For the ZTO Motorsports Team, the opportunity to log some laps indoors came about through a conversation with the Len and Jo's Motorsports team headed up by the Van Inwegen Family. The Van Inwegens, whose son Billly V Jr will be honored as the 2007 Slingshot National Champion in early February in Hershey, Pennsylvania, had room in their trailer for an additional car when someone backed out from making the trip to Fort Wayne. The last minute change of plans found the team working non-stop to re-assemble and ready their signature numbered 327 Slingshot to do battle at the event.

O'Connell, whose ZTO Motorsports Team is in the hunt for the best appearing car on the National circuit at the Speedway Entertainment Banquet in February, scored two fifteenth place finishes during the weekend events and without question the most exciting fifteenth place finishes in the history of the Rumble. Large numbers of fans flocked to the ZTO pit area after the races to shake hands with the young gun who kept them standing and cheering throughout the event.

The ZTO Motorsports Team would like to give a special thanks to the Van Inwegen Family for helping make the trip to Fort Wayne possible and to talented New York Sportsman and Sprint Car wheel twister "Captain Quick" Jeremy Quick for giving up his holiday time to go with the team to assist in crewing the car. They would also like to thank the many fans who made the team feel at home during their stay in Fort Wayne.

The "Z-Man" continues to excel in the classroom to go along with increasing on track skills. He has maintained Honor Roll status for every semester and has entered the 8th grade this year at the Highland Middle School, situated in Highland, New York. The Honor Roll status is part of an agreement worked out by his parents for the capacity to drive the race car. Zach will start his 5th year in the school band this year as he plays the jazz trumpet. Zach is heavily involved with the school newspaper, "The Blue Review" as an at large reporter. He is also a member of the Ski Club and the Mile Club.

Racing isn't the only sport the "Z-Man" is involved with. Competing in the Port Ewan Athletic Basketball Association, Zach's team, the Nets, won the league title in 2006 and were the runner-ups last year. He has moved into the 13-18 year-old division this year in the basketball league. When not playing sports or doing his homework, the "Z-Man" likes to take the drive to the S&S Speedways to continuously hone his skills at racing, as he finds the more laps run indoors, the more adept he is becoming on the track during the summer.

ZTO Motorsports would like to thank the great supporting cast of sponsors who have come on board with the relatively new racing team. The list includes, Apple Greens Golf Course, Lowes Home Improvement of Kingston, D&D NAPA of Highland, Stock Car Fantasy, John J Pezzo, CPA, P&Z Rental Management Inc, Northern Dutchess Archery, Trailer King, Frozen Rainbow, Jim Young Photography, Gross Graphics, Hig-Fab, Ulster Motorsports, Escopus Sportsman Club, Big Hick Wood, Dynamic Impressions Ink, GA Motorsports Media, and Tri State Studios.

For further updates regarding Zach O'Connell and the ZTO Motorsports team, log onto their website at: www.zacharyoconnell.com