News Article

World Street Challenge Brings Them From All Over the Globe

May 16, 2008
Korey Stewart and Leah Vaughn

Madison, Ill - This weekend’s World Street Challenge at Gateway International Raceway brings competitive drivers from all over the country… and beyond.

One of the teams making the trek to GIR for the event this year is Team Aruba. Many of the team’s members, including the father-son tandem Ven and Trevor Eman, are originally from the beautiful Caribbean island of Aruba.

Unknown to most, the small country is no stranger to the sport of drag racing. In fact, a few members of Team Aruba have been involved in racing since the mid-60’s and they will never forget where they started. “Take one step inside the race car and you’re back on the island of Aruba,” says Ven.

The www.aruba.com sponsored car is piloted by 21 year old Trevor Eman. Trevor is currently enrolled at the University of Central Florida where he is studying Mechanical Engineering. He started drag racing in Aruba at the age of 16.

When he moved to Orlando to go to school it became more difficult for him to fly back and forth to race so the decision was made to ship the race car to the United States. Over the past few years he has worked his way through the ranks and is currently racing his pro stock car professionally across the nation. “As long as my grades are good, I go racing,” says the young Eman.

Though Trevor enjoys racing here in the States he says eventually he would like to move back to Aruba and take over his parent’s welding shop. Ven Eman, Trevor’s father and a crew member of Team Aruba, is extremely proud of his son’s success and is happy to be back at Gateway International Raceway to take part in the World Street Challenge. “In 1997 we participated in this race and didn’t do well. We raced in Indiana, went runner up, and now we’re back here again to win it,” said Ven.

Ven has a lot of confidence in his team as well as Trevor’s driving abilities and he is looking forward to a successful weekend. “Trevor is very level headed and does not push matters. He listens very well. This race is very important.”

Come on out to Gateway International Raceway to see Team Aruba’s colorful pro stock racing the fastest quarter mile in the Midwest all weekend long in the World Street Challenge, where the purse will reach an astonishing $ 155,000 dollars! For more event information, please log on to www.worldstreetchallenge.com