'It's The Ride Of My Life': Forked River Man Featured On New NBC Car Competition Show

FORKED RIVER, NJ — "Jerzey Jim" Farrell has been working on cars for more than 40 years. Now, the Lacey resident has been given the opportunity of a lifetime, thanks to a brand-new NBC show.

"Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge," which premieres May 30, allows car superfans like Farrell to turn nostalgic cars from their past into the life-sized Hot Wheels of their dreams. The winner of each episode takes home $25,000 and an entry to the finale, where three finalists compete for a prize of $50,000 and their design to be made into an actual Hot Wheels die-cast car.

It was something that Farrell knew he had to be a part of.

"It was almost like the television show was written for me," Farrell told Patch.

Anyone who knows the hotrodder knows the story of his 1969 Dodge Charger. He keeps a photo of it in his wallet, where he doesn't even have photos of his children.

"That's how much that car meant to me," Farrell said. It was more than a just a car to him. He drove it all through high school and even took it to his prom, but to him, it also represents his relationship with his father.

"My dad and I didn't have a great relationship," Farrell said. But his dad had been a custom car builder back in the 1950s and Farrell inherited that passion. The two built the Charger together as a father and son project. They would talk about the car all the time, and Farrell said it actually mended their relationship, which he was able to maintain up to his dad's death.

When a friend told Farrell that Hot Wheels was auditioning people for a new car show, he knew immediately it was perfect for him. He sent in an audition tape at 10 p.m. and Hot Wheels was so touched by the story, they called him back the next day and said "you need to be on this show."

And being on the show was incredible for Farrell.

"It's the most amazing car show I've ever seen," he said. "And I've seen all of them."

The show is hosted by car aficionado Rutledge Wood and each episode invites two competitors into the Chrome Zone to transform an ordinary vehicle into an extraordinary Hot Wheels showstopper, inspired by personal stories and pop culture touchstones.

Judging will be Hertrech "Hurt" Eugene Jr. and Dalal Elsheikh, along with a rotating panel of celebrity guests including Terry Crews.

If you're not a car fan, Farrell urges you to still give the show a chance. "You don't have to be a car lover, you just have to be a people lover."

It was a dream come true for him to turn his beloved car into a life-sized Hot Wheels - something he's wanted since he was a kid, Farrell said.

And he said he will spend the rest of his life thanking Hot Wheels for letting him finish his story.

"They gave me closure," Farrell said. "They let me write the last chapter."

He knows the show will touch viewers' hearts as it touched his.

"It's the ride of my life," Farrell said.

"Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge" premieres on May 30 at 10 p.m. on NBC and Peacock.