Raphaël Lessard Explained

Raphaël Lessard
Birth Date:5 July 2001
Birth Place:St-Joseph-de-Beauce, Quebec, Canada
Achievements:First French Canadian to win a NASCAR National Series race and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race
2016 CARS Super Late Model Tour Champion
2018 Redbud 400 Winner
2021 Tom Curley 250 Winner
Awards:2016 CARS Super Late Model Tour Rookie of the Year
Total Truck Races:35
Years In Truck:3
Prev Truck Pos:28th
Prev Truck Year:2021
Best Truck Pos:12th (2020)
First Truck Race:2019 TruNorth Global 250 (Martinsville)
Last Truck Race:2021 WISE Power 200 (Kansas)
First Truck Win:2020 Chevrolet Silverado 250 (Talladega)
Truck Wins:1
Truck Top Tens:11
Truck Poles:0
Total Canada Races:8
Years In Canada:3
Prev Canada Pos:21st
Prev Canada Year:2021
Best Canada Pos:27th (2019)
First Canada Race:2019 Budweiser 300 (Chaudiere)
Last Canada Race:2022 Pro-Line 225 (Newfoundland)
First Canada Win:2019 Budweiser 300 (Chaudiere)
Last Canada Win:2021 General Tire 125 (Sunset)
Canada Wins:3
Canada Top Tens:7
Canada Poles:0
Updated:December 29, 2021

Raphaël Lessard (pronounced "less-ard"; born July 5, 2001)[1] is a Canadian professional stock car racing driver. He currently competes part-time in the NASCAR Pinty's Series for Ed Hakonson Racing. He last competed part-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driving the No. 24 Chevrolet Silverado for GMS Racing. He has also driven for Venturini Motorsports in the ARCA Racing Series, and GMS Racing, Kyle Busch Motorsports and DGR-Crosley in the Truck Series.

Racing career

Early career

Lessard started racing in an old Honda Civic, winning his first race on the day of his twelfth birthday. He then ran Quebec sportsmans and super late models in Canada before moving to America.[2]

CARS Tour

2015

His first American racing experience came in the CARS Super Late Model Tour, driving the 2015 season for Toyota Racing Development and David Gilliland Racing.[3]

2016

In 2016, at age 15, and in grade 10, he became the second non-American to win the CARS Super Late Model series championship,[4] the other being Mario Gosselin, also a Canadian from Quebec, who accomplished the feat in 1997.[5] It was Lessard's first championship. He won four of ten races during the season, including the season finale at Southern National Motorsports Park. Lessard continued with Toyota and David Gilliland Racing to run late model racing in large events like the Winchester 400, Snowball Derby and various PASS Late Model, CRA Racing Series and ARCA Racing Series events.[6]

2017

To start off 2017 he was disqualified from an April PASS race for intentionally wrecking other drivers, illegally passing under yellow, and inappropriate actions by his crew.[7]

ARCA Racing Series

2017

He debuted in the ARCA Racing Series in 2017 driving for Venturini Motorsports.[8] He made the top ten in his second start at Winchester Speedway.[9]

Truck Series

2019

On February 15, 2019, it was announced that Lessard will drive three races in the No. 46 Toyota Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series.[10] Lessard started 7th and finished 14th in his Truck Series debut at Martinsville.[11] In June, he joined DGR-Crosley's No. 17 truck for the Iowa Speedway and Canadian Tire Motorsport Park races.[12]

2020

In 2020, Lessard joined KBM for the full Truck season in the No. 4 Tundra.[13] Despite missing the playoffs, he won his first career Truck race at Talladega Superspeedway when he was leading as the caution came out on the final lap, becoming the first French Canadian to win in a NASCAR national series.[14]

2021

Lessard lost his KBM ride to John Hunter Nemechek in 2021 and subsequently moved to GMS Racing to drive the No. 24. The plans initially outlined a 12-race schedule before it was increased to the full season.[15] [16] However, funding troubles forced him out of the truck after seven races.[17]

Xfinity Series

2022

Lessard was scheduled to drive the No. 87 for SQR Development on a part-time basis in the NASCAR Xfinity Series throughout the 2022. Team owner J. C. Stout was unable to field the team due to "personal reasons", leaving Lessard without a ride.[18] Stout had been arrested in January 2022 for criminal contempt after a pattern of erratic behavior.[19]

Pinty’s Series

2019

Lessard would make his Pinty’s Series debut at Autodrome Chaudière. He would go onto to win in his Series debut.

2021

Lessard would sweep the first two races at Sunset.

Personal life

Lessard's father was a race car driver but sold his cars to help move Raphaël's racing career.[20]

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

(key) (

Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Camping World Truck Series

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series results
YearTeamNo.Make1234567891011121314151617181920212223PtsRef
2019Kyle Busch Motorsports46ToyotaDAYATLLVSMAR
14
TEXDOV
11
KANCLTTEXBRI
12
32nd135[21]
DGR-Crosley17ToyotaIOW
9
GTWCHIKENPOCELDMCH
54MSP
10
LVSTALMARPHOHOM
2020Kyle Busch Motorsports4ToyotaDAY
20
LVS
30
CLT
15
ATL
18
HOM
11
POC
37
KEN
13
TEX
12
KAN
16
KAN
11
MCH
7
DAY
3
DOV
19
GTW
6
DAR
6
RCH
26
BRI
18
LVS
20
TAL
1
KAN
33
TEX
4
MAR
20
PHO
5
12th563[22]
2021GMS Racing24ChevyDAY
23
DAY
26
LVS
30
ATL
39
BRI
3
RCH
23
KAN
8
DARCOACLTTEXNSHPOCKNXGLNGTWDARBRILVSTALMARPHO28th150[23]

Pinty's Series

NASCAR Pinty's Series results
YearTeamNo.Make12345678910111213PtsRef
2019Dumoulin Compétition07DodgeMSPJUKACD
1*
TORSASSASEIRCTR
7
RISMSPASENHAJUK27th85[25]
2021Wight Motorsports80ChevySUN
1
SUN
1*
CTR
14
ICARMSPMSPFLAFLADELDEL21st 125[26]
Ed Hakonson Racing8SUN
MSPACD
AVE
TOREDM
SAS
SAS
CTROSK
ICARMSPDEL
17th268[27]

ARCA Menards Series

(key) (

Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
ARCA Menards Series results
YearTeamNo.Make1234567891011121314151617181920PtsRef
2017Venturini Motorsports25ToyotaDAYNSH
33
SLM
13
TALTOLELKPOCMCHMADIOWIRPPOCWIN
10
ISFROADSFSLMCHIKENKAN51st370[28]
2019KBR Development19ChevyDAYFIF
8
SLMTALNSHTOLCLT27th615[29]
28POC
4
MCHMADGTWCHIELKIOWPOC
5
ISFDSFSLMIRPKAN

Season still in progress
Ineligible for series points

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Raphael Lessard summary. Racing Reference. 16 November 2016.
  2. News: Raphael Lessard, 16, is taking the stock-car racing world by storm. McDonald. Norris. 2017-08-19. The Toronto Star. 2017-12-14. en-CA. 0319-0781.
  3. Web site: Raphael Lessard – NASCAR Talk. nascar.nbcsports.com. en. 2017-12-14.
  4. Web site: SLM: A Canadian Goes South and Claims CARS SLM Title. Speed51.com. 16 November 2016. 12 November 2016.
  5. News: Raphaël Lessard crowned champion of the 2016 CARS Super Late Model Tour. 16 November 2016. Edmonton Journal. 12 November 2016.
  6. Web site: Raphael Lessard 2017 DGR Race Schedule. David Gilliland Racing. en. 2017-12-14.
  7. Web site: PASS Statement Regarding Raphael Lessard Disqualification At Hickory – race22.com. race22.online. en-US. 2017-12-14.
  8. News: Quebec's Raphael Lessard returns...race-ready for Winchester. ARCA Racing. 2017-12-14. en.
  9. Web site: Driver Raphael Lessard 2017 ARCA Racing Series Results - Racing-Reference.info. racing-reference.info. 2017-12-14.
  10. Web site: Lessard Returns To KBM For Three Truck Races. Speed Sport. February 15, 2019. February 15, 2019.
  11. Web site: An afternoon to remember for Raphael Lessard. Motorsport.com. March 23, 2019. March 23, 2019.
  12. Web site: Lessard Picks Up Two Gander Trucks Races with DGR-Crosley. DGR-Crosley. June 6, 2019. June 10, 2019.
  13. Web site: Canadian Raphael Lessard set to compete full-time for KBM in 2020. Kyle Busch Motorsports. November 14, 2019. November 14, 2019.
  14. News: Canadian rookie Raphael Lessard grabs NASCAR Truck series win at Talladega. AP. ESPN.com. ESPN. October 3, 2020. October 3, 2020.
  15. News: Long. Dustin. Raphael Lessard joins GMS Racing for 2021 season. NBC Sports. November 25, 2020. November 25, 2020.
  16. News: Estrada. Chris. Raphael Lessard to run full Truck Series season for GMS Racing. NBC Sports. January 7, 2021. January 7, 2021.
  17. News: Utter. Jim. Funding issues cut short Raphael Lessard's NASCAR Truck season. Motorsport.com. Motorsport.com. May 3, 2021. May 3, 2021.
  18. News: Raphael Lessard, SQR Development drop 2022 Xfinity plans. thecheckeredflag.com. thecheckeredflag.com. March 30, 2022. June 13, 2022.
  19. News: Castile man arrested at airport after days of 'threatening behavior'. thedailynewsonline.com. January 2, 2022. June 13, 2022.
  20. Web site: Raphael Lessard doesn't have a licence, but boy can he drive. Mio. Kevin. 2016-12-06. Montreal Gazette. 2017-12-14.
  21. Web site: Raphael Lessard – 2019 NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series Results. Racing-Reference. March 23, 2019.
  22. Web site: Raphael Lessard – 2020 NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series Results. Racing-Reference. November 6, 2020.
  23. Web site: Raphael Lessard – 2021 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results. Racing-Reference. December 29, 2021.
  24. Web site: Raphael Lessard – 2019 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Results. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.. April 6, 2019.
  25. Web site: Raphaël Lessard – 2019 NASCAR Pinty's Series Results. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. January 1, 2020.
  26. Web site: Raphael Lessard – 2021 NASCAR Pinty's Series Results. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. August 21, 2021.
  27. Web site: Raphael Lessard – 2022 NASCAR Pinty's Series Results. Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. August 21, 2021.
  28. Web site: Raphael Lessard – 2017 ARCA Racing Series Results. Racing-Reference. February 15, 2019.
  29. Web site: Raphael Lessard – 2019 ARCA Menards Series Results. Racing-Reference. March 10, 2019.