Sixteen-Year-Old Veach Releases Book Forwarded by Michael Andretti and Featuring Teammates Danica Patrick and Ryan Hunter-Reay, Among Others

INDIANAPOLIS (February 28, 2011) – Zach Veach, driver of the #7 ZAKOSI Data Backup USF2000 Mazda for Andretti Autosport, will release his first book, 99 THINGS TEENS WISH THEY KNEW BEFORE TURNING 16, with the help of journalist Lindsey Gobel on March 2. At press time, the book is available now through Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.

“Being a teen athlete I’ve gotten to do a lot of really cool things, but releasing a book tops them all,” said Veach, fresh off capturing the USF2000 Winterfest points’ championship in January. “The opportunity of competing for Andretti Autosport as teammates with some of the worlds greatest athletes has given me the strength to race through the trying times of being a teenager. Many of the same things my peers are going through I’ve been through and continue to work through right with them. I’m honored for the opportunity the 99 Series has given me to release a book and hope through my experiences, I can inspire those who may be working through something trying in their own lives.”

Veach, an Ohio native, penned a convenient speed-read that gives teenagers comprehensive insight through his experience with all the tough issues facing teens today. Dating, parents, college, driving, bullying, and peer Pressure are just a few of the issues tackled in the book.

ABC News national called Veach “Driven to Succeed” while Joshua Estrin, a frequent for CNN’s iReport and PopMuncher, said Veach has “a voice of reason at a time when it seems common sense is neither recognized nor acknowledged.” Alyse Rome, founder and president of Amazing Kids!, said Veach “reveals a maturity and level—headedness beyond his years.” Leslie Gant, producer for Entertainment Studios asked, “Where was this brilliant guidebook when I was a teen? The wisdom Zach dishes out to his peers is astonishing, and it sets them on a fast--track toward success.”

Included in the book, which is forwarded by Veach’s team owner and driving coach, Michael Andretti, is insight from those Veach has met along the way including several of his Andretti Autosport teammates like Danica Patrick, Ryan Hunter-Reay and former teammate Tony Kanaan.

While speaking at Microsoft Headquarters in late 2010 for the acclaimed TEDx Conference featuring “Amazing Kids” from around the globe, Veach also compiled words of wisdom for the book from other young champions, including Olivia Bouler (11-year-old AOL Artist), Kaylee Marie Radzyminski (age 15, founded Tunes 4 the Troops), Adora Syitak (youngest to ever speak at the TED Conference), Mackenzie Bearup (founder, Sheltering Brooks), Alec Lourz (age 15, founded Kids vs. Global Warming), Jason O’Neill (13-year-old named to Forbes Magazine list of influential role models), and the late Alex Scott, founder of Alex’s Lemonade Stand.

With Veach’s trademark of unique athleticism behind the wheel and the greatest stage in sports marketing as his backdrop, the young athlete sets his car keys aside to pen a book for other teens his age in the pits of youth. This literary venture is released as just one of Veach’s recent accomplishments. After being named one of CNN’s “Intriguing People” along with being nominated for Sports Illustrated magazines annual “Sports Kid of the Year” award in 2010, Veach also became the national spokesperson for FocusDriven, advocates for cell-free driving in conjunction with the Department of Transportation and Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood and a spokesKID for Oprah Winfrey’s ‘No Phone Zone.’

The USF2000 teen racer went on to release an Android anti-texting phone application, urTXT, in mid-2010 through his phone-app building company, ZaAPP. Further, the “Mazda Road to Indy” driver even heads up his own teen safe driving program, Ziggy’s Safe Driving, in race markets he competes in across the country.

Veach’s book, part of a wide-ranging library of self-help mini-guides, is trademarked through the 99-Series Inc., owners of the "99 Things You Wish You Knew before™..." book series and is available for purchase through Amazon and Barnes & Noble. The book is also available on all formats of eReaders.

Veach will return to the cockpit of his racecar for the March 17th USF2000 season-opener at Sebring International Raceway with Andretti Autosport. Follow along in Veach’s journey as he documents his 2011 season for RACER Magazine at www.racer.com. For more on Veach, please visit www.ZachVeach.com, www.AndrettiAutosport.com or www.USF2000.com.

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About 99 THINGS TEENS WISH THEY KNEW BEFORE TURNING 16
This go-to guide for teenagers, written by 16-year-old Andretti Autosport USF2000 racecar driver Zach Veach, is a manual for anyone trying to navigate their way through the twists and turns of adolescence. Forwarded by racing legend Michael Andretti, Veach gives fellow teenagers a uniquely relatable perspective through his personal stories and offers insight from someone who is right there with them in the pits of youth. The book is even peppered with quotes from other young champions including 11-year-old painter/fundraiser for the gulf Olivia Bouler, Kaylee Marie Radzyminski who at age 15, founded Tunes 4 the Troops, 12-year-old Adora Syitak, the youngest to ever speak at the TED Conference, Mackenzie Bearup, who at age 16 started Sheltering Books, 15-year-old Alec Lourz who founded Kids vs Global Warming, 13-year-old Jason O’Neill who was named to Forbes Magazine list of influential role models and the late Alex Scott, founder of Alex’s Lemonade Stand. Veach has also included words of wisdom from his Andretti Autosport teammates including Danica Patrick and Ryan Hunter-Reay, and IZOD IndyCar Series superstar Tony Kanaan. From peer pressure to handling bullies and planning for college, this book offers a helping hand to teens preparing to take the wheel of adulthood. For more information, please visit www.99-series.com.

About Zach Veach
Zach “Ziggy” Veach is a 16-year-old autoracing driver who competes in INDYCAR’s ‘Mazda Road to Indy’ USF2000 National Championship Series for Andretti Autosport. In 2011, Veach captured the USF2000 Winterfest Championship, on the heels of placing fifth in the 2010 season, being named one of CNN’s “Intriguing People” and being part of several kids up for Sports Illustrated “Sports Kid of the Year” award. In addition to his racing, Veach is an advocate for safer driving in conjunction with Oprah Winfrey’s “No Phone Zone,” and is the national spokesperson for FocusDriven, an advocacy group for victims of motor vehicle crashes involving drivers using their cell phones. In 2010, Veach released his first published Android application, called urTXT, in the Marketplace for Android to help consumers avoid dangerous text messaging while driving and helms his own safe driving program, Ziggy’s Safe Driving. Veach has been a guest or profiled on a variety of national platforms such as CNN’s Headline News, Oprah Radio’s The Gayle King Show, The Los Angeles Times and AOL to name a few. The son of a national truck and tractor-pulling champion, Veach entered his sophomore year of high school this past fall and plans to release his first book, 99 THINGS TEENS WISH THEY KNEW BEFORE TURNING 16, in March 2011. For more information, please visit www.ZachVeach.com.