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Raphael Lessard: First Race In NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series With Kyle Busch Motorsports

march 23, 2019

Saint-Joseph-de-Beauce (Quebec, Canada) - March 20th, 2019 - Raphael Lessard will run his first NASCAR Gander Outdoors Series Truck race aboard his No. 46 FRL Express | Spectra Premium Toyota, on his first visit to the 0.5-mile oval this Saturday March 23rd on the Martinsville Speedway oval.

The geometry of Martinsville makes for spectacular racing. With relatively long, narrow straights, the inside line is preferred for normal racing as well as passing, when a little bumping always helps. The slow, sharp corners require a lot of braking, and the inside line is again the place to be. Corner exits see a lot of wheelspin with torque causing the tires to lose traction more easily that at any other track.

Tire and brake management are key to success at this track, where smartness can pay off as much as experience. Raphael Lessard will certainly put a great show of car control over a couple of hours of hand-to-hand combat.

"This is my first visit to Martinsville; however I am confident that I can adapt to the circumstances quickly. According to Kyle Busch Motorsports team, getting out of the corners without sliding is essential with the new engine package - wasting power on big slides is out of the question - and I am good at smooth driving", explained Raphael Lessard.

A perfect exit requires a perfect entry into corners, imposing precision and concentration at all times. The drivers must also manage brakes and tires on the tight track. And add to this Martinsville's usual bump and shove as there is only one efficient line on the tight track, especially late in the race as tempers grow short.

Raphael Lessard has been using his experience on short tracks and his innate talent this season to make the most of the three different car-track combinations to which he must adapt as efficiently as possible.

"I will do well, especially with a Tundra set up by my Crew Chief, Mike Shelton, who has won a Truck Series championship before" added Raphaël Lessard, who is ready to take up the challenge.

You can follow the race on March 23, 2019 at 2 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR 90.

Martinsville Speedway

Opened in 1947, this paved-and-concrete 0.526-mile track features tight corners with 12-degree of banking and longish flat straights - it is called the "Paper Clip" with reason! The quick way around is the hotly contested inside lane, resulting in multiple bumps and scrapes on every car after a race, and a good show.

Read the complete press release here

Photo credit: KBMTeams