Byron Burnham is hoping the third time will be the charm as he attempts to get his classic car immortalized as a Hot Wheels Die-Cast.
Burnham is a finalist in the Virtual Hot Wheels Legends Tour stop, which is Thursday. If he makes it past that, he'll compete against other winners of virtual events for the ultimate prize: a Hot Wheels version of their prized automobile.
In Burnham's case, it's a 1975 Chevy Vega that he's owned for 10 years and has totally restored. He now races it and displays it at car shows across the Midwest.
He called the Hot Wheels opportunity "a lifetime dream."
This is the third year in a row he's entered the contest, which he originally found out about on Facebook. In 2018, his first year, he went to a Hot Wheels Legends Tour stop in Detroit but didn't make the cut. He advanced to the grand finale last year after winning a stop in the St. Louis area, beating out 300 other contestants.
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This year is a little different, with the entire contest being held virtually. Thursday's virtual stop will begin at 7 p.m. local time and will be streamed live via both the Hot Wheels and Super Street Facebook pages.
A panel of judges will pick the winning car, which will then join other finalists at the Virtual Grand Finale in Los Angeles in November.
New this year as part of the virtual contests is an opportunity for fans to pick an additional finalist from among top vote-getters at each tour stop.
For Burnham, making it to the finals again would be great, but winning it all would be a dream come true.
"It would be fantastic," he said.
Photos: Cars for racing and for pleasure
Photos: Cars, Cars, Cars!!
Photos: Cars, Cars, Cars!!
Nick Dice waves the checkered flag to end one of the many races taking place on Saturday, July 27, 2019, during the Cornhusker State Games kart racing competition at Tuxedo Park.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Photos: Cars, Cars, Cars!!
Jeff Jurgens (left) of Beatrice prepares his 6-year-old stepdaughter Karly Stiefvater (second left) for racing against Axley Strouf (right) of DeWitt as her father Matt Strouf (second right) on Saturday, July 27, 2019, during the Cornhusker State Games kart racing competition at the Tuxedo Park.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Photos: Cars, Cars, Cars!!
Nick Clement washes his 1952 Hudson Hornet Thursday in the Parking lot of the Country Inn & Suites, 53 53 N. 27th St. The show, which has 54 cars pre-registered for it, will continue Friday and Saturday.
ERIC GREGORY, Journal Star
Photos: Cars, Cars, Cars!!
Eagle Motorsports Welder/Fabricator Brandon Vernon builds one of the company's custom sprint car chassis on a rotisserie jig at their Lincoln shop on Feb. 19, 2013.
ERIC GREGORY, Journal Star
Photos: Cars, Cars, Cars!!
Mike Schutte is seen through the shaker hood scoop opening as he block sands the hood of a 1974 Pontiac Trans Am at Muscle Car Memories Restorations recently.
ERIC GREGORY, Journal Star
Photos: Cars, Cars, Cars!!
Steve Darrow, of Kiowa, Colorado waves from the driver's seat of his 1929 Ford Model A speedster during a tour West of Lincoln Thursday, June 25, 2015 as part of the 2015 International Speedsters Trials and Reunion, hosted by the Smith Collection Museum of American Speed. On Friday the event continues with a 1pm hill climb event at 6000 W. Fletcher Ave. and a car show at Culvers on North 27th Street at 5pm.
ERIC GREGORY, Journal Star
Photos: Cars, Cars, Cars!!
Frank Machek tops up the oil in his 1922 Ford Model T speedster during a tour West of Lincoln Thursday, June 25, 2015 as part of the 2015 International Speedsters Trials and Reunion, hosted by the Smith Collection Museum of American Speed. On Friday the event continues with a 1pm hill climb event at 6000 W. Fletcher Ave. and a car show at Culvers on North 27th Street at 5pm.
ERIC GREGORY, Journal Star
Photos: Cars, Cars, Cars!!
Participants hit the road after a break at the Spring Creek Prairie during a tour West of Lincoln Thursday, June 25, 2015 as part of the 2015 International Speedsters Trials and Reunion, hosted by the Smith Collection Museum of American Speed. On Friday the event continues with a 1pm hill climb event at 6000 W. Fletcher Ave. and a car show at Culver's on North 27th Street at 5pm.
ERIC GREGORY, Journal Star
Photos: Cars, Cars, Cars!!
John Steele, of Manhattan, Montana gets a helping hand to push start his 1917 Ford Model T before the start of a tour West of Lincoln Thursday, June 25, 2015 as part of the 2015 International Speedsters Trials and Reunion, hosted by the Smith Collection Museum of American Speed. On Friday the event continues with a 1pm hill climb event at 6000 W. Fletcher Ave. and a car show at Culver's on North 27th Street at 5pm.
ERIC GREGORY, Journal Star
Photos: Cars, Cars, Cars!!
A Chevrolet Corvette racing in the one-mile competition races past cloud-filled skies northbound on 462nd Road on Saturday, June 4, 2016, during the inaugural Big Blue Mile Shootout.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Photos: Cars, Cars, Cars!!
Todd Johnson of Lincoln looks over a red 1933 Ford Roadster before proceeding to the lifted-up 1955 Chevy (left) on Saturday, June 17, 2017, during Goodguys/Speedway Motors 3rd Day at the Hay.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Photos: Cars, Cars, Cars!!
Detail from a 4-speed 1955 Chevy 327 on display on Saturday, June 17, 2017, during Goodguys/Speedway Motors 3rd Day at the Hay.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Photos: Cars, Cars, Cars!!
Detail from a 1935 Ford with a 355 engine on display on Saturday, June 17, 2017, during Goodguys/Speedway Motors 3rd Day at the Hay.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Photos: Cars, Cars, Cars!!
Detail of the raised hood and engine of a 1938 Chevy on display on Saturday, June 17, 2017, during Goodguys/Speedway Motors 3rd Day at the Hay.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Photos: Cars, Cars, Cars!!
Detail from a 1931 Ford 2-door vehicle on display on Saturday, June 17, 2017, during Goodguys/Speedway Motors 3rd Day at the Hay.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Photos: Cars, Cars, Cars!!
Detail of the front grill and paint job on a 1940 Ford on display on Saturday, June 17, 2017, during Goodguys/Speedway Motors 3rd Day at the Hay.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Photos: Cars, Cars, Cars!!
Close-up of sleek hood ornament of 1937 Chevy 2-door vehicle on display on Saturday, June 17, 2017, during Goodguys/Speedway Motors 3rd Day at the Hay.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Photos: Cars, Cars, Cars!!
In addition to speedy thrills there were a few spills as this racer came to a stop on its top in one of the turns during an early heat of the Midwest Midget Championship on Friday, July 14, 2018, at the Jefferson County Speedway.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Photos: Cars, Cars, Cars!!
Racers head into the tight corners in an early heat at the Midwest Midget Championship on Friday, July 14, 2018, at the Jefferson County Speedway.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Photos: Cars, Cars, Cars!!
Portrait of Bob Burianek reflected in the driver side-view mirror of his 1928 Chevrolet National AB, a vehicle he parked in a barn in the 1950s and his family just had it restored for him on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018, by Derek Spitsnogle at Xotic Customs.
FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Reach the writer at 402-473-2647 or molberding@journalstar.com .
On Twitter @LincolnBizBuzz.
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