Ben Leonhardt, passionate about racing, overcomes 30 surgeries

OAK CREEK (WITI) -- 16-year-old Ben Leonhardt of Oak Creek is passionate about go-karting, and hopes to be a professional one day.

He is a driver with Leonhardt Motorsports -- and he says he likes to drive fast -- which is no surprise, considering he's 16!

However, what makes Leonhardt special are the speed bumps life put in front of him. He was born with not one, but eight different birth defects, causing him to have almost 30 surgeries and procedures.

Leonhardt recovered from his last surgery by watching every race he could for the week he was in the hospital. When it was time to go home, he talked his parents into letting him get behind the wheel.

It is because he has triumphed through adversity in order to achieve his dream of racing that Leonhardt is a FOX6 "High School Hot Shot!"