By: Lapcevich Racing
August 22 2016

Grimsby teen vaults to top of NASCAR championship standings

Grimsby, Ontario – Cayden Lapcevich executed a masterful late-race charge to win the Bumper to Bumper 300 NASCAR Pinty’s Series (NPS) race in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Saturday night.

The 16-year-old Grimsby, Ontario, racer scored the second win of his young NASCAR career at the lightning fast Riverside International Speedway.

“This has been a dream season,” said an elated Lapcevich in victory lane. “I just can’t believe the success we’ve had.”

The win vaulted Lapcevich to first place in the NPS championship standings with just three races remaining. He trailed points leader Andrew Ranger by five points entering the Nova Scotia event, and with his win he now enjoys a 12-point advantage.

“We came here with a plan to just be consistent and keep the fenders on the car,” said Lapcevich. “We hoped that would put us near the front when the checkers fell. We’re obviously thrilled with how it worked out.”

When Lapcevich won his first event last month in Saskatoon he made the trip west with just his father who serves as team-owner and crew chief Jeff Lapcevich along with a couple of crew members. This weekend the entire family made the trek east to support his effort. For the Lapceviches racing is a family affair, and Cayden’s mother Sherri is as involved as anybody.

“Mom was reminding me all race long on the radio that we need to be big picture racing,” said Lapcevich. “We weren’t really thinking we would come out of here with a win.

“This track is really racy, and the fans are great. I can’t wait to come back here next year.”

Lapcevich started ninth in Saturday’s race, and he cautiously worked through traffic to race near the top five early.

When championship leader Ranger cut a left-front tire the repairs caused him to lose multiple laps.

“I knew we had to capitalize after Ranger had problems,” said Lapcevich. “It wasn’t until the last restart I really thought we had a car that could win.”

Lapcevich moved into the top-five with 100 laps to go, but he wasn’t gaining on race leader Alex Tagliani. Tagliani was taken out in an accident on lap 232, and the complexion of the race changed entirely.

Lapcevich restarted fourth , and he kept the leaders in his sights as laps wound down. He methodically picked off his competitors one at a time before finally taking the lead with just 10 laps to go from series veteran Jason Hathaway.

“I couldn’t believe how good the car was at the end of the race,” said Lapcevich. “I made sure to not take any chances, but when the opportunity came to take the lead I took it.”

Lapcevich has defied the odds this year succeeding in a challenging series with virtually no corporate sponsorship. The family is funding the team out of their own pockets, and their teenage phenom is making the most of it.

The next event will take place on the road course at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park on Labour Day Weekend where Lapcevich finished fourth in May. To inquire about an interview with Cayden Lapcevich or to explore sponsorship opportunities please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..