MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Zach Veach is just 18 years old and he is the youngest person to hold a track record at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This summer, Veach will take the turns at the legendary oval during IndyFest.
Racing has brought Veach happiness nearly all his life. The 18-year-old is a member of the Andretti Autosports Racing Team, signed by Michael four years ago.
"I was always attracted to racing -- the speed, the lifestyle they have and I thought from an early age -- hey that's something that would fit me. (Michael) was my hero growing up, so that's been a unique experience for me," Veach said.
"The kid's just amazing. He blew me away the first time I met him. Great kid -- very intelligent and a lot of talent inside the car and outside the car," Andretti said.
However, racing has contributed to the hardest times in Veach's young life. A target for bullying, Veach recalls classmates mercilessly tormenting him.
"It was right at the start of my eighth grade year. My racing career had started to take off, and because I wasn't doing something traditional in public school, that also made me a target. Being four feet tall and 60 pounds made me a target to be pushed around and shoved over," Veach said.
Veach says classmates threw him in lockers and dumpsters and destroyed things he had earned on the track.
"A kid took my first win hat and poured milk all over it in the trash can," Veach said.
Today, Veach is popular -- the author of a book, nearly 10,000 followers on Twitter and an impressive racing resume.
Now, he's using that success to take a stand against cruelty among kids.
"I've used this to get to where I am today, but I want to help kids as opposed to just saying I survived it," Veach said.
Veach is a national spokesperson for the Great American No Bull Challenge. He speaks to classes, preaches compassion and emphasizes support systems.
"Surrounding yourself with great people, teachers and mentors and family to help you get past this big problem," Veach said.
Veach said he hopes no one has to go through the stuff he did, but also knows he made a choice to rise above it.
"I think it's a great thing that he's using racing as a platform to get the word out there because it's a terrible thing," Andretti said.
2013 will be Veach's first season in a Firestone Indy Lights car. He will be racing at Milwaukee on June 14th. He got his first oval pole at the Milwaukee Mile.