Back in July, actor and car enthusiast Sung Kang announced he was teaming up with three aspiring automotive technicians from Alhambra High School in Alhambra, California, to rebuild the ultimate underdog – a Ford Maverick – to debut at the 2016 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The project with Shell, featuring Pennzoil, and SEMA was dubbed “Project Underdog.” Now, the group says that this project has proven to be about more than just building a car, but also about learning how to overcome difficulties and finding success despite encountering obstacles.
One of the students working alongside Kang, Alexis Hernandez, has come face to face with obstacles that have proven to only make him stronger. Two weeks ago, he lost his father due to a heart attack. Hernandez has always been inspired by his father to work hard each and every day and, after enduring such a loss, he says he’s driven to continue to dedicate himself to this project and come out on top as an underdog.
The newest video, on YouTube and Facebook, is in memory of Carlos Hernandez, focusing on Alexis and his story.
Kang is currently overseeing the project while students work hand-in-hand with industry veterans to restore and completely rebuild the vehicle. The completed vehicle will be auctioned off to raise money for the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Foundation, which provides financial support to students pursuing careers in the automotive industry.
To keep up with “Project Underdog” and get additional updates, visit Sung Kang’s Facebook page.
