FORT WORTH, Texas – Jesus Apolinar of San Antonio was recognized on Friday during a news conference at Texas Motor Speedway.
The 29-year old Frank Tejeda Academy graduate was introduced and recognized by Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage. Apolinar and his family are special guests of the track for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 race weekend at the 1.5-mile speedway.
Apolinar was discovered on social media when he posted a picture of a tattoo that he has on his back that is dedicated to his later father Jesus Apolinar Sr., his father’s favorite driver Jeff Gordon and his favorite track, Texas Motor Speedway.
“Growing up my dad was a big Jeff Gordon fan,” Apolinar said. “Every Sunday we would watch the race when I got to stay with him. After church we would come home and watch the race with surround sound. I never asked him questions why, we just went with it.
“All of the stuff that he had of Jeff Gordon I knew not to ask questions. As I started watching him on my own, the passion that Jeff had, the determination showed a lot of characteristics of my dad. When my dad passed away I continued watching him and it just reminded me of the Sundays watching with him and that is just what I wanted to do. That’s what brought us together and that was the tribute that I wanted to do.”
Gossage said that he arranged for Apolinar to meet Jeff Gordon on Friday at Texas Motor Speedway.
“It was an unbelieve experience meeting Jeff Gordon,” Apolinar said. “He’s everything I would have ever thought. He’s nice and you know it’s just unbelievable. I’m speechless.”
Apolinar said he showed Gordon the tattoo and that Gordon signed it. Now Apolinar said he plans to have the autograph added to the tattoo. The original tattoo took 12 hours to finish. The car alone was a six-hour session.
Click below to listen to the news conference.
