Lapcevich Secures a Hard-Fought 3rd Place Finish at Martinsville Speedway - Speedway Digest

This past Saturday night, Martinsville Speedway presented the iconic NASCAR Late Model Series’ ValleyStar Credit Union 300. Known as the “Daytona 500” of Late Model racing, this prestigious event attracted an impressive 80 car entries, including Canadian driver Treyten Lapcevich from Grimsby, Ontario, making his debut at the renowned NASCAR track.

Lapcevich was in fight mode with his #77b BKFC Late Model Stock Car prepared by the Chad Bryant Racing team, adorned with a striking Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) livery, the fastest combat sport in the world, which quickly became a fan favorite. The eye-catching black and yellow design, featuring BKFC yellow fist logos, stood out as soon as it rolled off the trailer, capturing the attention of the crowd.

Since its inception in 1985, the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 has been the premier Late Model Stock Car race of the year, drawing high caliber competitors from across the region. With 80 drivers vying for a spot in the 40-car main event in order to get a chance to win the legendary Martinsville Speedway Grandfather Clock trophy, the qualifying process featured a unique format. Following single-car qualifying, drivers raced in four 25-lap heats, with the top 10 from each heat advancing to the main event. Due to the impending Hurricane Helene, practice and single car qualifying were rescheduled to race day, making it a very busy one for teams and drivers.

In the first round of qualifying, Lapcevich qualified 13th overall, earning the 4th position on his 25-lap heat. Starting in the first heat, Lapcevich finished 3rd on his 25-lap heat, instantly earning his ticket for the main event. “The qualifying was nerve-racking. In those heat races, anything can happen. We were fortunate to avoid any incidents,” Lapcevich said.

Starting in 9th position for the main event, Lapcevich set a strong pace, consistently ranking among the top 5 fastest times in the first half. However, the battle for position was intense within the top 10.

As the race progressed, Lapcevich climbed to 8th with 131 laps remaining. After a restart with 119 laps to go, the Canadian driver, behind the wheel of his BKFC #77b Mean Machine, was able to drive his way up to the 6th spot. A thrilling side-by-side duel with #17a Daniel Silvestri showcased the competitive spirit of the race, to the enjoyment of the numerous spectators in the stands and viewers watching on from home, culminating in Lapcevich winning the fight and securing the 4th spot with only 13 laps remaining. From his

4th position, Lapcevich had his sight on the #1 spot. The #16 car driven by Casey Kelly wasn’t going to let

Lapcevich pass him so easily, protecting his 3rd place. Lapcevich and Kelly fought for the 3rd position until the last lap, with Lapcevich winning the battle and earning the 3rd step of the podium.

“That race was a hard-fought battle. Our setups were good, and we got the most out of it. While we struggled with fresh tires early on, we capitalized as others’ tires wore out. That’s when we were able to gain position” Lapcevich explained. “The car performed well both on the inside and outside, giving us an edge after each restart.”

Reflecting on his experience, Lapcevich expressed excitement about his first race at Martinsville Speedway and first participation in the NASCAR Late Model Series. “The track at Martinsville Speedway is incredibly fun to drive, with high speeds on the straights, similar to North Wilkesboro, where I achieved my first victory in the CARS Tour. What is also very nice about Martinsville Speedway, is the atmosphere, with lots of fans, which made this event even more special. According to all the feedback we received, the fans at Martinsville really loved our Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship #77b Mean Machine, and we truly felt their support.”.

The next zMAX CARS Tour race for Treyten Lapcevich is set for October 12th at Tri-County Speedway, North Carolina. Fans can catch all the zMAX CARS Tour action live on FloRacing. Click here to view the zMAX CARS Tour calendar.

Treyten Lapcevich PR