Minnie's Original Kevin Lepage Biography Page
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This is not an official Kevin Lepage biography. Biography written by Robert Minnie Kevin started his racing career in 1980 at the age of 17. Driving a Busch North car for his brother, that was owned by their dad. Kevin won the first event he raced in a qualifying heat, and went on to finish 10th in the main event. Kevin stayed in the car and took home rookie of the year honors that year. Kevin competed in this series from 1980 to 1986. Winning the most improved driver honors twice. In 1987 Kevin started competing in the American Canadian Tour. (ACT) He stayed in that series until the end of the 93 season. Kevin found victory lane several times in this series. He won the Milk Bowl three times, and was the only driver to win the Milk Bowl and the Milk Cup in the same day. In 1994 Kevin decided to try the Busch Series. He started his own team, sponsored by Vermont Teddy Bear. In 21 starts Kevin had 1 top 10. The 95 season marked Kevin's second season in the Busch Series. In 22 start Kevin got 5 more top 10's. The 96 season was to Kevin's break through year. But as the season started there were management changes at VT. Teddy Bear, and budget cuts. The Busch car was one of the things cut from the budget. So Kevin started his 96 season with no sponsor. He was one of eleven drivers to make the first seven races. David Riddling took notice of Kevin, and put him behind the wheel of one of his cars. He finished the 96 season 8th in points. He had 3 top 5's and 10 top 10's. Kevin capped off his 1996 Busch season with his first career Busch Series victory at the Homestead Motor Speedway. Giving him his first career Busch Series victory. Kevin started the 97 season with David Riddling. He had thoughts of a Busch Series Championship. But that wasn't to be. Kevin ended up playing musical chairs during the 97 season. He ran most of the season in the #88 Hype car. Kevin also drove the #4 car for Phoenix racing. He finished his season in the # 42 ST motor sports car. Kevin finished his 97 season with 3 top 5's and 6 top 10's. The 1997 also marked Kevin's first appearance in a Winston Cup event. He went to the October Charlotte race. He qualified his car 12th, But finished 40th after being caught up in a wreck. Kevin would also qualify for the fall race at Talladega. In just his 2nd Winston Cup event he finished a very respectable 17th. Joe Falk would remember Kevin's efforts. Kevin showed up at the Daytona International Speed-way for the start of the 98 season. Kevin was in an unsponsored car owned by Joe Falk. People didn't even know who Kevin Lepage was. The 91 team was an unsponsored car with a rookie for a driver. Kevin's plans were to run the 98 Winston Cup schedule. Three races into the Busch schedule Doug Taylor contacted Kevin and ask him if he would drive his #40 Cannellock car. Kevin's Winston Cup career was to come first though. While driving For Joe Falk the team made 13 of 15 races. By this point people were starting to take notice of Kevin Lepage. Jack Roush contacted Kevin, and asked if he would be interested in driving for him? "Kevin's answer was a very simple "yes". Kevin left his ride in the 91 car and waited for his new ride to become available. Kevin sat out for 5 races. He returned to the track in Michigan in the # 16 Primestar Ford. In his second race back, he captured his first career top 10. It was a 10th place finish at Bristol. Kevin went on to better that with a 6th place finish in the October Charlotte race. Kevin also had a very productive season in the Channellock car. In 23 of the 30 races Kevin finished 14th in points. He had 6 top 5's, 10 top 10's and also captured his second Busch Series victory at the Bristol Motor Speed-way. Kevin also won the pole position as he broke the track record at Dover. Kevin finished up the 98 Winston Cup season with 2 top 10's, and was second in a very close rookie of the year battle after sitting out for 6 races. The 99 season found Kevin behind the wheel of the # 16 car once again. As the season started his orange and yellow Ford wore the Primestar sponsorship. But the sale of Primestar brought TV Guide on as Kevin's new sponsor for the remainder of the 1999 season. The final race of the season at Atlanta Kevin was able to capture his very first Bud Pole award. Kevin also ran a very limited Busch schedule in the # 99 Red Man Chevy owned by Brewco Motor Sports. As the 2000 season drew near Kevin found himself without a sponsor for his #16 Ford Taurus. With Kevin's pole run in Atlanta Kevin was pre qualified for the Bud Shot Out. Kevin picked up Mac Tools to sponsor his car for the Shot Out. Kevin went on to finish 5th. Northern Light signed on to sponsor Kevin for the Daytona 500 and the 2nd race of the season. After the 2nd race FamilyClick signed on to sponsor Kevin for the remainder of the 2000 season. As the 2000 season came to an end Jack Roush's #16 Ford was once again without sponsorship. So without sponsorship for the car, Kevin was let go from the Roush stables just before the season ending race in Atlanta. This would leave Kevin without a Winston Cup ride for the 2001 season. Through the off season Kevin and his team at Matrix Motorsports would stay busy preparing car for the upcoming Busch season. Kevin was scheduled to run a limited Busch schedule in his #71 State Fair Band Corndogs Ford. Being a very small team. The crew for the 71 team put some good cars on the track for Kevin. The 71 State Fair Ball Park Franks car went on to collect 2 Busch pole awards in the 2001 season. One from Scott Pruett at the road coarse at Watkins Glen and one from Kevin from the speedway at Kansas. The 71 car was the class of the field at the Kansas Speedway. Kevin took the lead early in the race and lead the most laps for the race. Being a fuel mileage race Kevin stayed out on the track 1 lap to many and the 71 car ran out of gas, ending Kevin's hopes of winning his 3rd career Busch race. Kevin was able to get back on the lead lap and managed to finish the race 12th. Kevin finished the 2001 Busch season with 1 top 5 and 4 top 10's. The merger of Ball Park Franks and State Fair brought an end to the sponsorship after only 1 season. As the 2001 Winston Cup season got under way Kevin was without a ride. His break would come 6 races into the season as Morgan-McClure released Robby Gordon from his contract. Morgan-McClure contacted Kevin to take over the seat of the #4 Kodak Chevy on a race to race basis. MM Motorsports were in the rebuilding process and were looking for a driver for the future. A few races with Kevin in the seat of the #4 Kodak Chevy he was signed to a 3 year contract. With the contract matters all behind, Kevin and the MMM team worked on the cars of the future. Nineteen races into the future Kevin was released of his driving duties in the #4 Kodak Chevy. Jim Smith contacted Kevin to have him fill the seat of the #7 Nation Rent Ford Taurus being vacated by Mike Wallace. Kevin accepted. In his first race in the car Kevin qualified 5th at Lowes Motorspeedway he went on to finish 13th in the race. In 8 races for Jim Smith in the #7 Nation Rent Ford, Kevin had 1 top 10 at Talladega and 4 top 20's. As the 2001 season came to an end. Jim Smith and Ray Evernham teamed up as owners of the 7 car and put Casey Atwood into the 7 car. With Casey in the 7 car and all the other rides secured for the 2002 season Kevin is once again looking for a ride for the new season.  |
