Larry King wants to interview Zak Veach

Zak Veach

Legendary television and radio host Larry King is looking for his next big interview. Forget Matthew McConaughey, Betty White, or even Tim Allen, King and his producers are looking for something different. Perhaps they have found it in 18-year-old Andretti Autosport Firestone Indy Lights driver Zach Veach. Veach was named a finalist this week by King's producers to be interviewed on King's talk show, Larry King Now. The 12 finalists are gathering votes for their entries on King's website with voting open until April 19, 2013.

"Larry King is such a big name in the world of interviewers and I can't image the opportunity to site across the desk from him and talk about my racing career and efforts against distracted driving and bullying prevention," said Veach, returning from his first race of the 2013 season on the Streets of St. Petersburg amidst the news. "I always enjoy talking to journalists and sharing my story and encouraging others to pursue their dreams too."

Larry King Now, launched in July of 2012, primarily featuring one-on-one interviews with 'the most fascinating newsmakers, celebrities, world leaders and internet stars,' similar in vein with King's previous television series, Larry King Live, which he hosted for 25 years on CNN.

Veach's team owner, Michael Andretti even told King, "We have a lot in common. You only interview relevant people and I only hire the best drivers and Zach Veach is one of them," said Andretti.

The Stockdale, Ohio native, Veach reached out to King's producers as part of their "Be Interviewed by the King" contest. As part of his submission, he was to share in 15 seconds or less why King should pick him to be his next interview.

"In my submission, I told Larry that we couldn't be more different except our willingness to help others," continued Veach, who would be just the second racecar driver interviewed on the program following Danica Patrick. "I mean, I'm a racecar driver, and he's a television host. He's like 80 and I'm not even 20 but I've seen how giving he has been and I'd love to share with him how lucky and humbled I feel to be where I'm at."

Veach returned for his fourth season with Andretti Autosport this year, moving up with K12 to the Firestone Indy Lights Series for 2013, the final stepping-stone to a future career in the IZOD IndyCar Series and Indianapolis 500. An element of moving up includes a brighter spotlight on the teen athlete, including the possibility of being interviewed by King.

As part of the finalist piece, King's producers asked Veach to submit a final one-minute video, which can be voted for until the contest ends on April 19, 2013, by simply liking the video on the ORA TV website.