GRIMSBY, ON- In just his first night behind the wheel of a Sunset Speedway Ltd. Late Model, rising star Cayden Lapcevich made sure to turn in a performance that will be talked about for weeks. ‘The Prodigy’ left fans – and fellow drivers – buzzing after his incredible runner-up performance in September 5th weekly competition at the Innisfil, ON oval.
Lapcevich was given the call to pilot Stompin’ Tom Walters’ iconic No. 47 mere days ahead of the Saturday night show, and made the best of the once in a lifetime opportunity. After working his way through the talent-laden field, Lapcevich waged war with eventual winner Travis Hallyburton right down to a last-lap showdown that has already been referred to by fans as one of the best race finishes of 2015.
“I would never have dreamt my first night in a [Limited] Late Model would have worked out that way,” admitted Cayden days after his incredible Saturday night performance.
“I think it really speaks to the quality of equipment and team members that Stompin’ Tom Motorsports has. Every single person on that crew was incredible from the moment I strapped into the car for first practice. I couldn’t have possibly asked for anything more”
The opportunity arose when Walters caught wind that Lapcevich was in need of two additional starts in 2015 to be eligible for the UNOH-NASCAR Scholarship program available to drivers under the age of 18 competing under the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series banner.
“The whole deal came together really fast – so I didn’t really have much time to be nervous about it,” explained Lapcevich when asked about the relatively short-notice arrangement.
“We realized that we would end up two starts short of being able to compete for the UNOH Scholarship – and when Tom heard that, he immediately offered me the ride,” continued the likeable high-school student. “It was an honour to get behind the wheel of that car. Tom’s a legend at Sunset, and I wanted to be sure not to disappoint him”
Although Lapcevich has two Pro Late Model starts to his credit with the APC United Late Model Series, he was quick to admit that Walters’ Ltd. Late Model was a completely separate entity.
“I had the two APC Series starts to draw from, so I had an idea of what I wanted to do. But, right away, I realized Tom’s car drove a lot differently than anything I’ve raced before,” said the third-generation racer.
“With the help of Tom and his team, I was able to adapt to it the longer the night went on. By the time we hit the track for the second feature – it felt like I had been racing it all season”
For Lapcevich, not only was the runner-up effort a way to further his development behind the wheel, it was a chance to take a look at just how much he has elevated his skill set since his debut in 2012.
“Being able to test myself against that level of competition was an awesome experience,” smiled the teenager.
“A lot of the guys I was racing with were in the Late Model field on the first day I was at Sunset in my Super Stock. So, in a lot of ways it was a way of seeing how far we’ve come as a team in just four years. Hopefully we can keep elevating and I can get back on track with these guys someday soon.”
Support for Cayden Lapcevich’s 2015 endeavors is provided by Tim Hortons, Castrol, Cathcart Trucking, Springers Meats, EPIC Racewear and Troy Cove Marine.
Fans can keep up with ‘The Prodigy’ by following him on Twitter @CaydenLapcevich and visiting the official Cayden Lapcevich Racing page on Facebook.
By Spencer Lewis (@itsspencerlewis)
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