Raphael Lessard Signs with Kyle Busch Motorsport for Three Races
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| Raphael Lessard buys truck ride with top team for 3 races |
| Bruce Nuttleman |
The 17-Year-Old Canadian driving phenom Raphael Lessard has committed to a 3-race program in KBM-prepared trucks. Lessard will make his debut in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series on March 23 at Martinsville Raceway (Virginie, USA) He will follow this up at the Dover International Speedway (May 3, Delaware, USA) and Bristol Motor Speedway (August 15, Tennessee, USA) rounds of the same series.
Raphael Lessard has gained some solid experience over the last three seasons, racing as a 14-year-old in major Pro Late Model and Super Late Model events, where he impressed everyone with his natural speed and his ability to weave his way through traffic without losing time.
Working with Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM), other teams and as part of the Toyota Racing Development Program (TRD), Raphael achieved remarkable results over his three seasons in top-level Super Late Model racing: winning 10 races, achieving 23 top-5, 23 top-10 finishes, four pole positions, and winning the 2016 CARS Super Late Model Championship.
In addition to the three NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series races in this year’s program, more races in K&N, ARCA and other NASCAR-related series may be added as the season develops.
The young driver has one goal for this season: to win as many races as possible. To optimise his effort, Lessard has decided to align himself with the best possible team: Kyle Busch Motorsports. “The other teams I have raced with all worked hard to give me the best car possible and the great results speak for themselves. With KBM for 2019, I am again assured of having one of the best trucks out there, race after race. KBM is a team of winners, and I intend to take full advantage of the great situation I find myself into. One thing is certain; we will be going for the win every time out", declared a highly motivated driver.
“It’s rewarding as an owner to see the progression of young drivers like Raphael, and Erik Jones and Christopher Bell before him, that start out in our Super Late Models as part of the Toyota Racing Development program and are able to turn that into an opportunity to compete in the Truck Series," owner Kyle Busch said. “Raphael was really fast in our Super Late Models last season and added a couple of marquee wins to KBM’s resume. We expect that he’ll be able to step right in and be competitive as he makes the jump to the next level."