By Olivia Whissell, Staff Writer
Four races into the 2023 NASCAR Pinty’s Series season and Treyten Lapcevich has won three.
Lapcevich, who only had two career wins prior to this season swept the month of May. He won the season opener at Sunset Speedway as well as Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. Lapcevich finished second at Autodrome Chaudiere at the the start of June followed by his third win of the season at Eastbound International Speedway.
Last season, Lapcevich captured his first Pinty’s Series win of the season at Sunset Speedway. His second win came in the series’ inaugural dirt race when he held off veteran dirt racer, and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver, Stewart Friesen.
The 19 year-old from Grimsby, Ontario has his own father, former CASCAR Super Series winner, Jeff Lapcevich atop the pit box.
So far this season Lapcevich and the No. 20 Chevrolet team have led 590 of 851 laps completed. The father-son duo have combined to have an average finish of 1.25.
When looking back at Lapcevich’s performance so far in 2023 on a race by race basis to date, his domination becomes more evident.
Sunset Speedway
In May of 2022, Lapcevich scored his first career win in the season opener at Sunset Speedway.
He started the 2023 campaign the same way, capturing the checkered flag in dramatic fashion after holding off the No. 3 of Alex Guenette on a late race restart. Lapcevich led all but three laps, when Guenette took the lead away on the last restart.
It took Lapcevich all the way to turn four of the final lap to regain the lead and take home his first win of the season.
🏁WINNER WINNER🏁@TreytenL captures the victory here at @Sunset_Speedway
🇨🇦 TSN+ 🇺🇸 @FloRacing#NASCARPintys | #NTNUltimateBearing250 pic.twitter.com/fCZNu2k9o0
— NASCAR Canada (@NASCARPintys) May 14, 2023
“At this point, we are going to keep pushing along, get these finishes and rack up these wins if we can.” Lapecvich said following his first win of 2023.
He was, in fact, able to rack up more wins as the season continued.
Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP)
Prior to 2023, no Lapcevich had ever won on the road course at Canadian Tire Motorsport park. Father Jeff, and brother Cayden, each made multiple attempts, and had multiple podiums between them.
However, in the first road course race of 2023, the 19 year-old Lapcevich landed himself on the top spot of the podium after an expertly executed ‘bump and run’ on defending champion Marc-Antion Camirand.
WHAT A FINISH🏁
Check out @TreytenL last turn pass for the win here at @CTMPOfficial. #NASCARPintys | #eBayMotors200 pic.twitter.com/1TBelT10M0
— NASCAR Canada (@NASCARPintys) May 21, 2023
“I didn’t want to jack him up, spin him around, get him in the wall or anything,” said Lapcevich. “I just moved him up and out of the way just enough to swoop by and grab the win.”
Lapcevich only led one lap all race, which was the most important lap of the race, the final one.
Autodrome Chaudière
The first Quebec race of the season was once again dominated by Lapcevich. However, it was the defending champion, Camirand who came home with the win.
A late race restart allowed Camirand to start on the bottom with five to go.
He raced Lapcevich hard, something Lapcevich was not happy about.
🟩Back green with 5 to go🟩
🇨🇦 TSN+ 🇺🇸 @FloRacing#NASCARPintys | #BudLight300 pic.twitter.com/LDdm63Et0n
— NASCAR Canada (@NASCARPintys) June 10, 2023
“He put me down in the fence on the back stretch, put me in the fence on the front stretch. Just used me up,” said Lapcevich who finished in second.
Eastbound International Speedway
The most recent race of 2023 was at the easternmost track in Canada, Eastbound international speedway.
Once again it was Lapcevich and Camirand on the front row in a late race restart, however this time third was the 2017 series champion, and Xfinity series regular, Alex Labbe.
Lapevich was able to drive away from the field as the battle for second held up the field.
🏁What a finish!@TreytenL gets his third win in four races, while @AlexLabbe36 just beats the No. 96 to the line for second!
🇨🇦 TSN+ 🇺🇸 @FloRacing#NASCARPintys | #ProLine250 | #NASCARontheRock pic.twitter.com/v5yJItoRy9
— NASCAR Canada (@NASCARPintys) June 24, 2023
This win however was not without challenges, as Lapcevich was not happy with the car in the first half of the race.
“We never stopped adjusting, came down during one caution, and made a lot of adjustments at the break too,” said Lapcevich.
With 10 races still to go in the season Lapcevich has made himself an early favorite for the championship.