The Lapcevich family has blazed a trail across North America this summer finding success at every stop. The family race team – Fastline Motorsports – features Grimsby’s Jeff Lapcevich in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series (NCATS) and his boys Cayden and Treyten competing in quarter midget sprint cars.
In the last six weeks the Tim Hortons-sponsored team is on fire. Cayden won a Quarter Midget Association (QMA) Grand National championship in Texas, Treyten scored his first career win at a club race in Pennsylvania, and Jeff finished fifth in a Quebec NCATS event.
The epic road trip started late in July when the family left Grimsby, Ontario, for the QMA Western Grand National Championships in Texas. It was the second time in less than a month the family traveled south for the boys to compete.
In recent years Fastline’s racing schedule features year-long racing with the quarter midgets mixed in with Jeff’s partial NCATS tour. The end of the school year means the start of busy season for the Lapcevich’s racing efforts.
By the time they left for Texas, the Lapceviches had raced in Indianapolis twice, and Jeff piloted his Tim Hortons Chevrolet to a seventh place result in the NCATS Toronto Indy event – and that was only July.
Ten year old Cayden and six year old Treyten accomplished an impressive feat in Indianapolis. The duo qualified into the A Main event in four of their five respective divisions. The challenge is overwhelming with the level of competition on hand. Jeff was particularly impressed with Treyten's performance racing against kids as much as three years older.
“We were ecstatic with our results in Indianapolis,” said a proud father Jeff. “The competition is so difficult at the Grands you can’t really expect to qualify for every main event.
“In some classes there’s more than 60 cars trying to get into just eight or 10 spots in the finals. The boys did great. Treyten doesn't seem phased racing against older kids. They have great composure.”
Expectations were again high in Texas, and the boys didn’t disappoint. This time they qualified for each of their A Main events, and Cayden won his third consecutive Grand National title in the Lite Modified division. The previous two years he claimed his victories in British Columbia and California.
“It felt great to win Lite Mod for the third straight year,” said Cayden. “The car was fast, but the track was really bumpy. We’ll try for four in a row next year.”
On the way home the team stopped in Pennsylvania to compete in a local club race. Not to be outdone by his older brother Treyten scored his first victory in the Junior Honda division.
“We’re really proud of Treyten,” said Jeff. “He’s caught on fast to driving these cars.”
The next event in the NCATS schedule upon their return from the United States was on the popular street course at Trois Rivieres, Quebec. With about a month spent out of the driver’s seat Jeff showed no signs of rust.
He qualified just out of the top 10 but wasted no time moving forward at the drop of the green. Jeff paced himself methodically working through the field to score an impressive fifth place finish.
“I’m pleased with fifth since we had to start so far back,” he said. “The car performed well, and the team just keeps getting better.”
Lapcevich races again this Saturday at Mosport Speedway near Bowmanville, Ontario. The oval track race is his first since finishing third in the NCATS opening round at Delaware Speedway in June.
For more information on Fastline Motorsports visit LapcevichRacing.com.
