ST: Cayden Lapcevich Scores Second Straight Championship at Sunset Speedway

On Saturday night, Cayden Lapcevich put the cap on an incredible season at Sunset Speedway, scoring a second place finish to take home the 2015 St. Onge Recreation Super Stock Championship at Sunset Speedway. For the teenager, it marks his second straight division championship.

“To be able to say that we’re two time champions is nothing more than a dream come true,” he said to Spencer Lewis in victory lane post-race. “We’ve learned so much about our program in the last two seasons. I can’t possibly say enough about my parents, my team and my sponsors for getting us here. I feel like I’m dreaming.”

The unique factor of Lapcevich’s championship is he wasn’t scheduled to run the full season, with jugging a partial NASCAR Canadian Tire Series schedule and his little brother running as part of Sunset Speedway’s Mighty Mini division. However, the decision was made mid-season for Lapcevich to run the full schedule and go after the championship.

“After getting a strong start, my mom told us that we should go for another championship, and I can’t even begin to express how thankful I am that she did,” he commented.

Lapcevich’s season was as close to story book as you could get racing against the top drivers in the province, that include past champions and big ticket race winners, as he finished no worse than third in the 11 races this season, highlighted four features victories. The ability to finish in the top-three on some nights was remarkable to watch in seeing the ‘Prodigy’ come through the field, as he would have to 14th some weeks as the previous weekend’s race winner. Along with the stellar feature performances, he also scored four heat wins and two Fast Qualifier Dash wins along the way.

He would miss two events due to his NCATS commitment, having 2014 Graham Landscape Mini Stock Champion Brandon McFerran fill-in for him. Sunset Speedway rules state that you can have a driver fill-in for you for two nights, gaining you points. McFerran kept the No. 76 Tim Hortons, Castrol, Cathcart Trucking, Springers Meats, EPIC Racewear and Troy Cove Marine entry up front, scoring a victory in his first start, followed by a fourth in his second start.

“This was the most competitive Super Stock division in Ontario this season,” he said. “There were seven different teams that won features this season. So just staying at the front was a battle. Every single guy on this roster has improved from where they were in 2014. There were no easy outs. Every single lap was a battle.”

Standing before the crowd on Saturday night as the champion, Lapcevich would thank his parents for their commitment to his racing program over the years.

“They’ve done so much for my siblings and I and I just can’t thank them enough,” he stated. “It’s been an amazing two seasons for this team and I’m loving every minute of it.”