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Giveaway #20 Winner Profile:

Hector Castaneda and the 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06

Sometimes the most casual purchases lead to extraordinary outcomes. For Hector Castaneda, buying a Z06 Corvette shirt for his son turned into claiming the actual car, a 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06, plus $30,000 from 717 Supply’s 20th giveaway.

 

“I bought my son the Z06 Corvette shirt that Mike offers on his website, and that’s what I used to enter the giveaway,” Castaneda explained during his winner interview. The purchase wasn't strategic—it was merely a fatherly gesture. “I never thought I would win,” he shared. “This was my first time entering.”

The irony of the situation wasn't lost on Mike Hyssong, founder of 717 Supply, during the reveal. “Technically, then I feel like it's his car,” Hyssong joked about Castaneda's son, who had inspired the winning purchase. Castaneda quickly countered with a humorous comment about potential insurance costs.

Castaneda's introduction to 717 Supply came through years of following Hyssong's content on his Street Speed 717 YouTube channel. “I had followed Mike's channel for many years,” he noted, though he admits this was his first giveaway entry. 

 

The phone call informing Castaneda of his good fortune was accompanied by a moment of confusion and disbelief. “When I first got the call, I did think it was a scam because Mike answered with a Russian accent,” Castaneda recalled. He added, “When he did his regular voice and told me I was the winner, I believed it.” 

Family reactions followed a predictable pattern of disbelief. “My family couldn't believe it and were asking how it could be possible,” Castaneda shared. “They thought I was messing with them, but I showed them the post that Mike made, and they believed it.”

The cross-country trip from Riverside, California, to Pennsylvania for the reveal created a father-son experience neither will forget. When the covers came off the Rapid Blue Z06, Castaneda's amazement was evident: “This thing's beautiful, this is crazy.” The moment marked his first time seeing a Z06 in person. This particular Corvette featured custom forged wheels, a titanium exhaust system, and even titanium lug nuts. 

 

Castaneda’s time at headquarters was almost overwhelming. “My experience started with getting the car. Second, working with Mike and his team," he reflected. 

In a follow-up with Castaneda, he reports that the family has already personalized his prize. “My son named the car Zoey because of the Z06.” Castaneda also shares that the “best moment has been driving it with my sons and enjoying the drive with them.” He remarks, “My plan for the car is to just enjoy it. It’s going to be our weekend car.”

For skeptics wondering about authenticity, Castaneda offers himself as proof: “I’m an example of this giveaway not being fake. Mike and his company are great people who treated us very well.” His advice to potential entrants is simple: “I would tell people to enter, it can always be you who gets the call.”

About the 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06

The 2023 Z06—Hector Castaneda's prize— is one of Chevrolet's most capable track-focused production cars. It’s a mid-engine monster that Chevrolet calls “a new American supercar that puts the world on notice.” An exotic profile and world-class performance back up the claim. 

The Z06's beating heart is an all-new 5.5-liter LT6 V8, the highest-horsepower naturally aspirated V8 engine ever produced for any production car, according to Chevy. This flat-plane crankshaft powerplant delivers 670 horsepower at 8,400 rpm and 460 lb-ft of torque at 6,300 rpm, with an impressive 8,600 rpm redline.

717 Supply enhanced Castaneda’s Z06 with significant modifications that elevate its already impressive specifications. The crown jewel of this work is a full titanium exhaust system from Fabspeed https://717supply.com/Motorsport. The upgrade transforms the car's already notable exhaust note while reducing weight by about 40 pounds. Custom forged wheels replace the stock 20-inch front and 21-inch rear wheels, providing an aggressive stance with ZR1 vibes.

The Z06’s track-focused design includes a stance 3.6 inches wider than the standard Stingray, which accounts for the massive 345-series rear tires. The long list of standard equipment includes Magnetic Ride Control 4.0, six-piston front brake calipers with 14.6-inch rotors, and an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission programmed for peak track performance.

Inside, the driver-focused cockpit features premium materials and carbon fiber accents. Castaneda's car also includes a blue-on-blue interior color scheme that matches the Rapid Blue exterior. The Z06 comes with multiple driving modes, launch control, and traction management systems designed for street and track use.

Poster