By: Ashley McCubbin

INNISFIL, Ontario — As he stood by the trailer reflecting on the night, Treyten Lapcevich’s words on the journey to this point were simple in saying, “the first win comes the hardest is what they say.”

Lapcevich knows all about that, coming close in every which way shape or form through the past couple seasons as he tried to capture his first career NASCAR Pinty’s Series victory. From getting spun in the late stages at Sunset Speedway last year, to a bump-and-run out of the way at Delaware Speedway.

This year, though, he was able to start off the season by celebrating the elusive first victory at his home track surrounded by family and friends.

“It means a lot, especially here at Sunset Speedway,” he told NEWS FROM THE PITS. “We’ve come so close so many times last year, and to finally get it done tonight, it feels really good. There were so many times last year where we were the fastest car and stuff didn’t fall our way. Tonight, we probably weren’t the fastest car, but stuff fell our way and it feels just as good.”

Throughout the NTN Bearings 250, Lapcevich ran inside the top-five, keeping himself in position for a chance at the win. A late-race caution set-up a green-white-checkered finish, and it was on from there. Raphael Lessard and Marc-Antoine Camirand made contact, opening the inside lane off of turn two which was filled immediately by the No. 20. He was able to clear them both, and cruise to the victory.

“The 96 (Camirand) started to come down on me on the straightaway on the restart and I just let him have it,” Lapcevich commented. “I knew he was going to go into the 8 (Lessard) with some speed, so there was no sense in trying to battle him and let the 8 get away. So that’s what I did, and the hole opened up this season and I took it.”

Now with the victory in hand, Lapcevich hopes to carry the momentum to Canadian Tire Motorsports Park this weekend after a podium performance in 2021. Boasted as one of the early title contenders, he says it will be critical to “keep up the consistency, get some more wins hopefully, and be there at the end.”

On top of running the full schedule this season, he will also continue to dabble behind the wheel of other cars, set to run four Outlaw Super Late Model races in Plymouth, Indiana, and “hopefully we can do some more Pro Late Model races in the states and dabble some APC Series races in, as well.”