"Z-Man" Zach O'Connell Secures Sponsorship Help From Port Ewen Athletic Association
by Steve Pados, GA Motorsports Media

West Park, NY- Thirteen year old New York driving talent Zach O"Connell and his ZTO Motorsports Team have recently secured sponsorship help from the Port Ewen Athletic Association for the upcoming 2008 racing season. O'Connell competes in the association's basketball functions during the fall and winter seasons while away from his racing activities during the spring and summer months. The non-profit association has viewed the success of the young West Park speedster and has decided to lend support the "Z-Man" with some financial assistance for the new season.

The ZTO Motorsports Team took advantage of an excellent opportunity to do some indoor racing in Fort Wayne in December and put the finishing touches on their signature numbered 327 to battle at the Rumble.

While the learning experience for the youthful O'Connell was paramount in adding some new venues to his racing resume, he was somewhat disappointed with his finishing results in Indiana. A pair of fifteenth place finishes in the feature events and a third place finish in one the dual heat formats was the best the "Z-Man could accomplish in his first competition at racing indoors. While the "Z-Man" may have been disappointed with the racing results, the team made many new friends in Indiana while competing at the event. The major benefactor here was time as with the Slingshot car prepared and ready to go for the new season, it gave the team an ample opportunity to prepare and roll-out it's next project in racing in advance.

Through Team Manager Paul O'Connell, the team has begun work on a 305 Sprint Car and ready it for battle this coming year in the Capital Sprint Racing Association. (CSRA) With a great deal of help coming from regular CSRA wheelman "Captain Quick" Jeremy Quick, the team has embarked on a plan to assemble the sprint car and have it rip-roaring ready to go when the CSRA season rolls out on March 29th. While a few parts remain to be purchased, the assembly process is full gear an should be completed on time. The battle-plan is to have the "Z-Man" gain some soft seat time in the car early on, become acclimated with the equipment and the new division he is entering, and when he until he feels comfortable, drop the hammer and set sail. The new series will be the first changes in equipment for the young speedster since the "Z-Man" began driving Slingshot race cars in the summer of 2006.

The ZTO Motorsports Team will be in attendance this coming Saturday night at the Speedway Entertainment Banquet in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The "Z-Man" will be honored for his 8th place finish on the Junior National Slingshot Tour in 2007 in limited participation. The enterprising team is also in the hunt for the best appearing car award on the National circuit. The pride of ownership displayed by the team is hopefully recognized at the Banquet, where $7,000.00 in prize money is to be dealt out through the course of the evening to a variety of champions and point achievers.

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. Zach also competes in the Port Ewen Athletic Basketball Association. When not playing sports or completing 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 he runs indoors, the more adept he is becoming on the racetrack 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, Fast Dirt Racing Promotions, Port Ewen Athletic Association, 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