Meet the Contender: Bruno Carneiro

All aspiring drivers and athletes around should know the road Bruno Carneiro takes to fulfill his dream of being a professional racecar driver.

Bruno Carneiro is not an average 16-year high school student. The Riverton, Utah racer has just returned from a successful racing trip to China representing the Utah Motorsports Campus, where he recorded a podium finish in the FIA Chinese F4 Championship. Carneiro is one of nine finalists for the Mazda Road to 24 Shootout which kicks off this weekend. Should Carneiro win the Shootout, he will receive a Mazda scholarship for a full-season entry in the Battery Tender Mazda Global MX-5 Championship.

Every young driver relies upon the help of backers and sponsors to move up the racing ladder. Carneiro is no different, but has taken a slightly different approach to finance his efforts behind the wheel. Since 2008, he has gone door-to-door - nearly 400 homes per week - four or five nights a week, selling gift certificates for his primary sponsor, Rodizio Grill. Carneiro earns a portion of each sale, which funds his racing effort.