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Category: Oval Racing

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS)
Event: Toyota Care 250, race 6 of 22 (250 laps in three segments of 70 | 70 | 110 laps – 187,5 miles)
Track: Richmond Raceway (Virginia, United States – 0.75 miles)
Date | Live TV & Radio: Saturday, April 17 at 1:30 pm (EDT) on RDS, Fox Sports Racing, FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR 90

**RDS and RDS DIRECT digital network present every NCWTS race on the 2021 schedule.

Saint Joseph de Beauce, Quebec – Raphael Lessard will take part in his sixth NCWTS race of the season this Saturday on the wide, nearly flat 0.75-mile oval at Richmond Raceway at the wheel of his #24 CANAC Silverado. His performance and that of his GMS Racing team impressed everyone at Bristol, and Raphael Lessard is going for another podium finish this coming weekend. His performance on the Bristol dirt surface confirmed his ability to adapt and learn quickly, and demonstrated his level of professionalism after only one full season in a NASCAR series, and despite the odd circumstances imposed by the pandemic. Raphael Lessard Racing team members are working to find the necessary financing to participate in all 22 races of the season.

"We are well prepared for Richmond this weekend. This is my second race at this track, and the experience I gained over the 2020 season will allow me to drive faster and to quickly adapt my driving to the behaviour of my #24 Silverado CANAC truck over the race distance. The track surface is hard on the tires and I have to drive smoothly to protect them. I am comfortable on a short track like Richmond with its low banking in corners 1 and 2. The entrance to turn 3 is almost flat and you have to be careful when braking not to slide the rear tires, which wears them out too quickly. My CANAC truck will be fast and I'm sure it will be great for the race," says Raphael Lessard with enthusiasm.

Raphael Lessard And The NCWTS

After five (5) races in NASCAR trucks in 2019, Raphael Lessard competed in all 23 races of the NCWTS in 2020, his first full season at that level. His first 10 races of 2020 served him well as he worked hard with a professional team, and against seasoned drivers.

He learned more advanced driving techniques from these experienced drivers as well as from his spotter: learning new track quickly without a pre-race test or qualifying session, watching their driving trajectories and test new ones for himself as the track changes over the course of the race, managing downforce and turbulence, overtaking more effectively and protecting your position in the race, adapting to handling defects and adjusting his driving during a run, communicating effectively with the team during a run to describe any problems, managing front/rear braking distribution during a run, managing tire wear to optimize their performance at the end of the race and working in unison with team members during a pit stop.

The effects of this learning were clearly visible over the second half of the 2020 season, as Raphael Lessard caught and worked his way to the leaders several times to put himself in a position to win, as he did at Talladega, and accumulating four top-5 and seven top-10 finishes over the course of the season.

Raphael Lessard Career Highlights

Right from his start on the track at age 11, Raphael Lessard has raced throughout the Eastern Canada and then on to the United States, establishing a solid reputation as a driver to watch along the way.

In 2020, the young Beauceron decided to leap into professional racing and competed in all 23 races of the NCWTS series (formerly the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Trucks Series). In 28 starts (five in 2019) in NCWTS trucks, Raphael Lessard has won one race, finished four times in the top-5 (two podiums), and nine times in the top-10, giving him an average finish of 14.5.

In 2019, Raphael Lessard led 83 race laps, finished twice in the top-5 and three times in the top-10 in three starts in the ARCA Menards Series. He earned a win, a top five and two top10 finishes in the NASCAR Pinty's series. His NASCAR Pinty's series win came on his home track, Autodrome Chaudière in Vallée Jonction (Quebec, Canada), on June 29, after leading 153 of 300 laps on the way to an emotional win.

He also won two important Super Late Model Series races in 2018, including the U.S. National Short Track Championship at Bristol Motor Speedway in May, and the ARCA/CRA Super Series Red Bud 400 race at Anderson Speedway in July.

In 2016, Raphael Lessard won the CARS Tour Super Late Model Championship after recording four wins, one pole, leading 157 laps and finishing with eight top-five and nine top-ten finishes out of 10 races.

2021 Season – GMS Racing – NCWTS

CANAC

CANAC is the first independent hardware and building materials store chain to open in Quebec City. Its expertise of over 145 years of experience allows CANAC to perpetuate the spirit of the hardware stores of yesteryear in a modern environment, with qualified personnel trained by its continuing education centre accredited by Emploi-Québec. CANAC serves both individual customers and contractors and offers aggressive prices that defy all competition. Since its acquisition by Groupe Laberge in 1985, the company's expansion has focused on opening new modern hardware stores and on renovating existing branches to better adapt them to the needs and expectations of consumers. Today, CANAC has 30 branches and employs more than 3,400 part-time and full-time workers.

GMS Racing

Chad Walter takes over as Crew Chief and Tyler Monn will act as Spotter for Raphael Lessard in 2021. Chad Walter has won five (5) races in 208 Xfinity starts as a Crew Chief. He led Tyler Ankrum to a spot in the 2020 playoffs in his first season as an NCWTS crew Chief. Tyler Monn, while still below 30, impressed key staff at Hendrick Motorsports last season. This year, he moves up the ladder as Kyle Larson’s spotter in the Cup Series as well as working with Raphael Lessard in NCWTS and making for an ideal scenario for the young driver’s second year of development.

FRL EXPRESS Inc.

F.R.L. Express Inc. is a general transportation company founded in 2004 by François Lessard. Its main field of activity over the last 15 years is general transport in closed trailers over short and long distances in Canada and the United States. FRL currently have about 50 employees in addition to about ten tractors-trailer outfits. FRL owners are proud of the progress made in recent years thanks to the FRL team members and wishes to continue on this positive note. “Our employees, customer service and satisfaction are our priorities. We are all proud to be partners in the success and achievements of our son Raphael Lessard,” state the proud parents.

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Category: Oval Racing

Read More Agricultural Equipment Dealership Stewart's Equipment Joins Steckly’s Pro Late Model Program

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Category: Oval Racing

Milverton, Ontario – Kyle Steckly, driver of the No. 24 Qwick Wick/ AW Millwrights Chevrolet Camaro is delighted to welcome Tightline Anchor to his roster of partners supporting his 2021 rookie Pro Late Model season.

Tightline Anchor is a Canadian, Veteran-owned and operated business that began with two friends in a garage, envisioning how to build a better anchor. Tired of drifting in the wind, of anchor failures, of rope twists, and noisy anchors that startled fish the two outdoor enthusiasts knew there had to be a better way to anchor their lightweight watercraft. The founders’ ingenuity resulted in a collapsible high-performance intuitive marine technology that takes small watercraft anchoring to the next level.

With control, position management and safety at the core of their engineered anchors, Tighlitne has introduced the first precision anchor specifically designed to meet the needs of the kayak, canoe and personal watercraft crowd.

“I want to thank the guys at Tightline Anchor for their support. If I’m not at the track or in the shop working on my car, being on the water is one of my favourite places to be.” said the pilot of the No. 24 Qwick Wick/ AW Millwrights Chevrolet Camaro. “I’m not only looking forward to the warmer weather to get the racing season underway, but to also get out on the water and put my Tightline Anchor to use.”

In just three years, Tightline’s unparalleled quality, craftsmanship and performance has made their products a trusted choice for both professionals and hobbyists alike. To learn more or to place an order visit tightlineanchor.com.

Earning multiple Mini Stock wins and podiums over the past few seasons, the 15-year-old son of four-time NASCAR Pintys Series Champion Scott Steckly is eager to join the ranks of the Pro Late Model division for his rookie season at Flamboro Speedway along with select appearances in the APC United Late Model series in 2021.

“Here at Tightline, we're amped up to be a part of Kyle's new venture in stepping up to pilot his #24 Camaro in the Pro Late Model Division. We are life long race fans and passionate about supporting a young driver in his dream to advance his racing career. We wish all the sponsors, fans, officials, race teams and the crew at 22 Racing an exciting and safe season.” said Greg Linton, Co-founder, Tightline Anchor.

In addition to Tightline Anchor and recently announced sponsors, Qwick Wick, AW Millwrights, Stewart's Equipment, NAPA AutoCare, April Super Flo, Steckly is proud of the continued partnerships and support of the following long-time supporters who’ve played a key role in his rise through the racing ranks; Milverton Food Town, Lift Solutions, Schmidt Logging, Triple B Spraying, Iron Bridge Fabrication, High Fluid Products, Trailers by Jim Bray, REMAX Jim Bowman, Thomson Signs and Phoenix Electric.

For the full Pro Late Model Flamboro Speedway schedule please visit: www.flamborospeedway.ca and stay tuned for future announcements including APC United Late Model appearances as the season progresses.

About 22 Racing

22 Racing is owned by Four-Time NASCAR Pinty’s Series Champion and Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame Inductee Scott Steckly. 22 Racing provides highly competitive race cars built in their world-class 7,500 square foot Milverton-based facility and maintained by a team of highly experienced crew members.

22 Racing offer turnkey solutions that range from research and development, construction, testing, logistics to marketing support. Visit 22racing.ca for additional details and a list of previous notable drivers the team has prepared cars for.

Follow the 22 Racing team on social media for behind the scenes updates on; Twitter @22RacingTeam, Facebook Fan Page 22RacingTeam and Instagram 22RacingTeam

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Category: Oval Racing

Read More Spectacular Drive Through The Pack By Raphael Lessard On The Bristol Dirt