Arpin accepted the Readers? Choice Award live during the Canadian Motorsports Expo
TORONTO, ON ? On Saturday, January 22, Canadian stock car racer Steve Arpin was in Toronto to accept a prestigious honour. The 27-year-old Ontario-born driver was in Canada?s biggest city ? for the first time in his life ? to accept the Inside Track Motorsport News Readers? Choice Award for being voted the Canadian Racer of the Year Participating at the Highest Levels of International Competition. The award was based on Arpin?s achievements in 2010 and was determined based on votes cast via a secure, online poll of almost 7,000 Inside Track readers and website visitors.
The awards presentation took place on-stage during the Canadian Motorsports Expo. In all, 13 Inside Track Readers? Choice Awards were handed out at the Expo, celebrating Canada?s top current and future stars in a variety of motorsports disciplines, including stock cars, road racing, drag racing, motorcycle racing, karting and rallying.
Arpin, who now resides in Cornelius, North Carolina, received almost 35% of the total votes cast in the ?International? category. Arpin?s 2010 successes in the U.S.-based ARCA and NASCAR Nationwide Series allowed him to best his fellow Canadian nominees in the category ? including open-wheel sensations James Hinchcliffe and Robert Wickens ? for the prestigious title.
?To be recognized for any award is fabulous,? said Arpin. ?But it is such a special honour to have the fans vote for you. This kind of award is something that means far more to me than the trophies for points.?
Running a limited schedule in the ARCA Series with Venturini Motorsports, Arpin was able to claim three race victories (at DuQuoin, Texas and Salem) in his #55 Mike?s Hard Lemonade Toyota. His obvious talent and ARCA success quickly caught the eye of NASCAR Nationwide Series car owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. Entered into seven Nationwide races in JR Motorsports? #7 and #88 Chevrolets, Arpin earned one top-10 result (in the Subway Jalapeno 250 race).
Concluded a smiling Arpin, ?Everything I?ve accomplished so far was made possible by the support I?ve received, not just from Mike?s, but from the fans all across the country. I?m living my dream right now, and these people are along on the ride with me.