Raphael Lessard Betrayed By A Mechanical Failure At Atlanta Motor Speedway - NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS)

Atlanta (Georgia, United States) – March 20, 2021. Starting from the 23rd position, Raphael Lessard worked his way through the field in the No.24 Richelieu Hardware Silverado, taking care of his tires in order to understand their high rate of wear on this track. Raphael Lessard was up to 11th position without any problem on lap 48 when he felt a vibration. He suspected a flat tire, a critical problem on a track where the cars reach almost 300 km/h. This situation forced him to go to the pits for tires and gas. Raphael Lessard came back on track having lost a few laps on the leader. On lap 115, the young Beauceron tells his team that the car was not running properly at all and he was forced to pit with no possibility to return to the track with six laps to go. The team determined later in the garages that the differential had failed.

The Race From the Driver’s Seat

“The truck was running great early in the race and throughout the first stage. I was able to run on the quicker inside line, something that I could not do in last year's truck. I was up to 11th place and really thought that I had a flat tire when the vibration started, and I first had to pit for a new set.  The team then told me that the old tires were OK, but the vibration was still there and getting worse as the race wore on, and the car would not run at its normal full speed. Then, near the end of the race, I felt a big hit at the rear as the failed differential ended my race with a bang with only a few laps to go.”

“The team is always ready with a good truck, and we are due for a good result. Thanks to Richelieu Hardware for their help and we will see you at Bristol for the dirt race. I'm really looking forward to it,” explained the driver of the No.24 Richelieu Hardware Silverado.

Date: Saturday, March 20

Event: FR8 Auctions 200

Track: Atlanta Motor Speedway (Georgia, United-States – 1,54-mile trioval)

Format: Three stages of 30 |30 | 70 laps

Start | Finish: 23 | 39 (completed 124 of the 130-lap race)

Winner:  Kyle Bush from Kyle Bush Motorsports (Toyota)

Next Race – Bristol Motor Speedway – March 27, 2021 (On dirt)

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jessica Ménard, Les Équipes Caissie-Ménard inc. 

Business Consultant, Raphael Lessard Racing                                                         

Mobile: 819.448.6514 – Email: 

[email protected]