Fantasy became reality Monday for a young Edmonton race car driver. Stefan Rzadzinski found out he won a spot in the Race of Champions.
“We did it!” Rzadzinski said in a video posted on Twitter. “I’m so happy I don’t even know what to say. We just got news from the Race of Champions – we won. I couldn’t have done it without any of you.
“I don’t even know how to put this into words. This has been unreal.”
The event brings in elite car racers including Formula One world champions, IndyCar series champions and NASCAR champions. It will take place at Marlins Park in Miami later this month.
READ MORE: Edmonton race car driver calls on community to help him take part in dream racing event
Rzadzinski, 24, entered the online contest to try and win a spot in the race, which he describes as “kind of like fantasy camp for motorsports.”
On Friday, he asked Edmontonians to help make his car racing dream come true by voting in the online contest. The candidate with the most votes won. Rzadzinski received nearly 10,000 votes.
READ MORE: Alberta racing driver Stefan Rzadzinski at Toronto Indy
“I still can’t quite believe that I will be representing Canada and my hometown of Edmonton, Alberta at the upcoming Race of Champions,” Rzadzinski said on Tuesday. “The opportunity to drive alongside racing legends is truly an honour and a dream I could not have achieved without the love and support of my community. I’m extremely grateful and look forward to what this incredible opportunity might bring to my future in motorsports.”
“Thank you Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, everyone around the world who has got on board with this… You guys are amazing. I can’t believe what we just did. That was the most stressful four-and-a-half days of my life. And we pulled it off.
“I can’t believe we pulled it off.”
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Rzadzinski was among 10 people from across North America vying for the chance to represent Team ROC Factor North America together with Canadian IndyCar racing star James Hinchcliffe at the event.
“Competition for the single North American spot was extremely competitive, as Stefan was competing against a popular IndyCar driver from the U.S. who received numerous celebrity endorsements,” Nissan said in a statement. “In order to secure the winning spot, Stefan put his trust in his family, friends and his local community. To Stefan’s surprise, he received an insurmountable level of support from fellow Edmonton residents, as well as from fans across Canada.
“Through frequent and heartfelt social media updates and media interviews, Stefan was able to rally a large number of supporters who were with him every step of the way. His supporters included Premier Rachel Notley of Alberta, Mayor Don Iveson of Edmonton, Mayor Naheed Nenshi of Calgary, the Edmonton Oilers and Andrew Ference.”
“I really appreciate this,” Rzadzinski said. “Thank you for supporting me. Please join me on this journey. I think it’s just the beginning.”
Rzadzinski started kart racing when he was eight. Since then, he’s raced on the IndyCar circuit and most recently in the Nissan Micra Cup.
With files from Phil Heidenreich, Global News
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