Byline: RICHARD CHANG

The first time Igor Sushko drove a car on a track-any track-was two years ago. He was 18 years old. It was raining. He tightened the 350Z's rear antiroll bar to its maximum setting, took out the spare tire, shut off the traction control and spun out on his second lap at Mid-Ohio. This month, he debuts a Nissan Skyline GT-R in the SCCA Speed World Challenge GT series.

Seriously. There have been plenty of 20-year-old rookie racers, but few have done it the way Sushko has. He didn't work through karts or race Formula Fords in England. Sushko hasn't raced in any national series. He's gone to a handful of racing schools, but most of his experience has come from lapping at track days. His biggest accomplishment so far: Winning three races at a Skip Barber Formula Dodge regional event.

Compare that with Team Cadillac's lineup: Andy Pilgrim, Max Angelelli, Ron Fellows and Johnny O'Connell....