Hamilton, Ontario – October 17, 2008 - One week ago, Michael Vincec was hunkering down with veteran tuner Trevor Wickens at Las Vegas Motor Speedway looking to dial in a Cameron Motorsports Swedetech/CRG. The task at hand - becoming the first Canadian in history to capture the Snap-on Stars of Karting ICC National Championship. Practice had gone well, but a few tenths needed to be found prior to entering the hot pit Saturday for prime time qualifying and the pair were intent of finding it. A short night later, the third-year senior had the first pole position of his Stars career and was set for three heat races starting from P1. “Qualifying was a big boost,” Vincec said of the timed session. “After struggling all year in qualifying, it was great to finally get the pole.” Struggling may be a stretch, as the seventeen-year-old was never far from the front row - if not on it - but still, starting from the top of the grid heading to three heat races was just what the situation called for. Vincec entered the National final weekend leading the ICC National Championship with 450 points and was being chased by fellow Canadian Jordy Vorrath at 430, and back-to-back defending National Champion Gary Carlton at 419. Usually one to manage the heat races in a matter-of-fact way, Vincec knew the stakes were raised in Vegas. “This time I knew I had to get good results and start on the first two rows,” he said upon his return to Canada. “The Championship depended on it.” The trio then raced up front through the heats, joined by former National Champion Alex Speed, and no other kart in the field would manage a top-four on Saturday. Vincec finished a strong second in heat one, and worked toward his goal from there. “In heat two I finished third,” he said. “Jordy made a pass into corner one and then I stuck behind him the rest of the race. In heat three Speed got by when I was trying to make a move on Jordy for second, so I ended up fourth. It led to Q3 overall, and I was happy as I met my goal with starting on the first two rows.” Sunday dawned with twin mains on the bill and all the scenarios having been calculated. If Carlton were to win both, his total would be 619. If Vincec ran to the podium twice, his total would be 620, and Vorrath would be out of the Championship picture altogether. Vincec takes the story from there: “In the first final I was in third behind Jordy after the start and I made a pass on him going into corner one in the opening laps,” he said. “I made the pass stick, and was running second behind Gary when Speed made a pass on me and I fell into third. I stuck there for the rest of the race.” With one race to run, and Carlton looking strong at the front with a Swedetech/CRG of his own, Vincec knew he must finish third in the last run of the Stars season. “I tried not to think about it and let it get to me,” he said. “But it did add some extra pressure. I fell back to fourth at the start but with Jordy falling out of the race near the start I moved into third, and I had breathing room.” The rest is history. Vorrath had retired with an ignition problem, and Vincec cruised 24 laps to third - all it took to claim the National Championship by a single marker over Carlton. Besides bragging rights and the option on the National #1 plate, winning the Stars Championship also earned the Ontario driver an incredible career building award from Snap-on Stars of Karting presented the Indy Racing League - a full season sponsorship in the 2009 Skip Barber National Championship. Vincec will run a full campaign next year in open-wheel racing, but there is little doubt where his heart will be. “Kart racing will always be my favourite thing to do on this earth,” he said this week. “And there is still a lot to achieve in karting, both here and overseas. The support I have received in the sport is just incredible and I have to thank them: the staff at Cameron Motorsports with Bob and Danielle; Trevor for being a great mechanic and help to me; Mike Roth for all his help and support; CRG/Maxter for its support both in North America and Europe; Mattia Madami for his support at races; Swedetech racing engines for great engines and race weekend support; it’s simply incredible, overwhelming really.” The Championship wraps up a decorated four-year run for Vincec at Stars. After finishing third in the 2005 80cc National Championship, he debuted in ICC in 2006 and finished 13th overall, scoring an impressive win at Lowe’s Motor Speedway that led to being named the Stars of Karting Rookie-of-the-Year for the season. 2007 brought fourth in the final standings and the ekartingnews.com Rising Star Award, but nothing can compare to the season just concluded: In seven point-scoring drives in 2009, Vincec never missed the podium in Stars competition. It speaks volumes of Cameron/CRG, Swedetech, and the man at the wheel - Michael Vincec, Eastern Division Champion, Western Division Champion and 2008 Stars of Karting ICC National Champion. |
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