NASCAR Truck Series: Does Raphael Lessard deserve to run full-time?

After departing from Kyle Busch Motorsports following his rookie year, Raphael Lessard deserves to run full-time in the NASCAR Truck Series with GMS Racing.

Although he finished 12th place in the NASCAR Truck Series championship standings in his rookie year, Raphael Lessard is not reprising his ride behind the wheel of the #4 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota in 2021.

He has been replaced by John Hunter Nemechek, who competed as a rookie in the Cup Series in 2020 for Front Row Motorsports.

Lessard then announced that he will drive a part-time schedule with GMS Racing next year, hoping to increase his schedule to a full-time campaign.

Lessard deserves to run full-time for the reigning Truck Series championship-winning organization.

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The 19-year-old Canadian has displayed plenty of talent in his short career thus far. He notched his first Truck Series win at Talladega Superspeedway, emerging as the victor when he led the field at the time NASCAR threw the caution flag on the final lap, thereby ending the race.

In 28 career Truck Series starts, Lessard has one win, four top five finishes, and nine top 10 finishes. He entered 2020 without a bevy of experience in any NASCAR or ARCA Menards Series division. Prior to running full-time with Kyle Busch Motorsports, he had competed in just five Truck Series races, five ARCA Menards Series races and one ARCA Menards Series East, formerly NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, race.

When he was hired to drive for two-time Cup Series champion Kyle Busch’s team, Lessard had already impressed his team owner. Here’s what Busch had to say last November.

"“We’ve watched Raphael grow as both a driver and a person since joining our Super Late Model program in 2018 and we’re looking forward to being a part of his continued progression. Similar to Erik Jones and Christopher Bell before him, Raphael joined our Super Late Model program and immediately won some big races.“Then, when given a part-time Truck Series schedule, they all proved capable of running up front and earned the right to compete full time. Erik and Christopher went on to win races and a championship in trucks, now Raphael has the opportunity to continue to follow their blueprint.”"

Jack Irving, Senior Manager, Commercial Director, Toyota Racing Development, added the following.

"“Raphael has continued to prove himself as an outstanding race car driver. He has shown poise behind the wheel and has achieved solid results in the opportunities he’s been presented with thus far. We look forward to watching him grow and achieve even more with this full-time opportunity in 2020 behind the wheel of a Kyle Busch Motorsports Tundra.”"

In his rookie season, Lessard earned one win, four top five finishes, and seven top 10 finishes. He finished 20 of the 23 races on the schedule. Although he finished on the lead lap in 13 races, slightly more than half the season, he suffered from having no practice or qualifying sessions after NASCAR returned from its COVID-19 hiatus.

However, compared to rookie teammate Christian Eckes, Lessard did not perform as well. Eckes bested him in 18 of the 23 races and recorded more top five finishes and more top 10 finishes. Moreover, Eckes made the Truck Series playoffs before ultimately finishing in eighth place in the championship standings.

So why should Lessard be given another full-time opportunity with GMS Racing, a team which had three drivers in the 2020 Championship 4?

For starters, Lessard showed he is a good wheelman at road courses. In 2019, he raced in the Truck Series race at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. In that race, he started in ninth place and finished in 10th.

This year, the lone Truck Series road course race occurred at the Daytona International Speedway road course. Lessard led three laps, finished in seventh place in the second stage and finished in third behind two GMS Racing drivers. At that time, it was his career-best finish.

The 2021 Truck Series schedule features three road courses: Circuit of the Americas, Watkins Glen International and Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. If given the opportunity to compete in those races, Lessard will be a contender to win all of them. Those first two races are in the regular season. If he competes full-time and wins at least one, he would likely be playoff-bound.

Another race track where Lessard would shine would be Pocono Raceway. His lone Truck Series start there this year ended with a 37th place finish due to a wreck, but he has also started two ARCA races there. In those two races, he has two top five finishes with a top finish of fourth.

GMS Racing already have four full-time drivers set for the 2021 season. Lessard signed with the team because of its prowess and his desire to return to victory lane, which he made clear when he joined.

"“The team knows how to bring potential winners at every race, a key to a great season. Our team will be great, and I can’t wait to be back on track. I would like to win races and above all finish in the top five in every race, as well as continue to improve my driving.”"

If Lessard is unable to construct a full-time campaign in the Truck Series, he ought to also, funding permitting, compete part-time in ARCA.

GMS Racing already signed Jack Wood to compete in the ARCA Menards Series Sioux Chief Showdown, a 10-race championship within the main ARCA schedule, but Lessard would benefit from more track time at several of those tracks, which are often also on the Truck Series schedule.

Next. 5 tracks to add to the Truck Series schedule. dark

Raphael Lessard’s 2021 Truck Series schedule has not been announced yet, but look for him to run well in his starts. Does he deserve to be a full-time driver?

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