Lebanon 11-year-old, a budding racer. wins maiden run in Crown Vic class at Star

Traver Michaud is all smiles as he holds the checkered flag in the winner's circle after winning his first race in his Crown Vic on Friday at Star Speedway in Epping. (Courtesy photos/Michaud's Law Motorsports)

LEBANON, Maine - Could there be a future NASCAR star out of Lebanon, Maine?
That remains to be seen, but if Traver Michaud's performance a week ago at Star Speedway in Epping, N.H., is any indication, well, don't count him out.
Michaud, who turns 12 on Sunday, drove his 2011 Crown Vic to victory in a three-car race that saw him take command when he went three-wide to take the lead on the quarter-mile track about halfway through the race.
Michaud already has lots of experience on racetracks at Star and around New England, but this was the first time he was running in a division that included adults.

EAT MY DUST: Traver Michaud, 11, of Lebanon, Maine, leaves his competition behind as he takes sole possession of first place during the race.

The new class is called the Troy Morse Trucking "Cruisers" presented by Night Owl Creations. It consists of only Crown Vics, which often served as police cars back in their heyday.
Michaud said this particular model was built specifically to be a police cruiser.
The race on Friday was his first in this car, but it won't be the last. It is expected that Star Speedway will run this division every Friday through the season.
A young man of few words, Michaud said it was a very tight race.
He said the car handles admirably.

"It was very tight, it did everything I was hoping for," he said, adding, "It felt good to win."

BOOSTED AND PROTECTED: a look at the interior of the modified Crown Vic

Even more incredible is that he'd only had a few practice runs in his Crown Vic prior to the win.
Michaud, who stands 4-foot-11 and weighs 83 pounds, has run several other cars at Star and other tracks, but this was his first in a rear-wheel drive, which handles very differently than a front-wheel drive.
The Crown Vic is heavily modified, his mom, Jessica, said, including moving pedals toward the driver, elevating the driver allowing him to see over the steering wheel and a protective cage around him.
His father, Jacob, who runs Michaud's Law Motorsport, estimated Traver's top speed during the race to be around 65 mph.
Traver will also be racing in the Super Troopers division on Fridays. Super Troopers are 4 cylinder cars/kids only.
Traver's main sponsors are B & R Automotive in Berwick, Maine, and Michaud's Law Motorsports in Lebanon.
His supporting sponsors are The Hen House Café in Lebanon, Interstate Soils in Lebanon, GG Gilpatrick, Rochester House of Pizza in Rochester, N.H., and Dynasty Chinese Restaurant in Rochester, ABS Graphics and Chasing The Checkered Flag.
Traver's schedule and all of his racing updates will be on Michaud's Law Motorsports on Facebook.
All of his races will be on Michaud's Law Motorsports on You Tube.
Here is a link to watch this race last weekend. https://youtu.be/Nr9OK-j4Lqg