RPW Column: Showing Steady Improvement, Hunter Lapp Looking To Continue Trend In ’21

Column By: MIKE TRAVERSE / RPW – ACCORD, NY – Since he began racing at age 8, Hunter Lapp has made steady progress through the years. The soon to be 17 year old has improved his points position in the Sportsman division at Thunder Mountain Speedway the past 3 seasons. But the young driver is placing emphasis on winning races in 2021.

“For 2021, we will be racing in the DIRTcar Sportsman division at Thunder Mountain Speedway ,” Lapp said. “We may possibly race some at Accord Speedway with our other car.”

Lapp got his start in racing with the slingshots at Accord Speedway, Oakland Valley Race Park and Hamlin Speedway. He raced in the Jr Tour in the slingshot, finishing 3rd twice.

Moving into Sportsman in 2017, he won 3 races that first season. He has already totaled 10 wins with his racing at Thunder Mountain and Accord.

In his seasons as a regular at Thunder Mountain, Hunter has steadily moved up in the points, going from 7th in 2018 to 6th in 2019 and a jump to 3rd in 2020.

“Sure, it’s always a goal to win a championship. But that is kind of a bonus if it happens,” Lapp said. “We are looking at winning races as our main goal in the upcoming season.”

The team will have 2 Hig Fab cars for use in 2021.

“Jerry Higbie and the Hig Fab crew are always a big help to us with the car setup,” Hunter said. “It’s always great to work with them.”

Sponsors for the team are New York Stamped Asphalt (NYSA), 209 Storage Vault, Arold Construction, DIG Race Products and Henry’s Exhaust. The team would welcome any additional sponsors.

On race night, it’s just Hunter and his dad Nick crewing the car with his mom Cheryl and his aunt as cheerleaders. But the lack of a big crew is not a big concern for the team.

“We usually park next to a team that would always be glad to help us out, say if we had a flat or some other type of issue,” Lapp said. “It’s all part of how racers work together.”

Already with some good success, the steadily rising Hunter Lapp will be a driver to watch in 2021.