“A step in the right direction” for Lessard

Raphaël Lessard has landed himself a part-time drive in the Xfinity Series, NASCAR’s second division, in 2022.

• Read also: From accountant to monster truck driver

• Read also: Villeneuve aims for the Daytona 500 Miles

The Quebec driver has been recruited by the SQR Development team to compete in a few races over the next few months, the first of which will take place in Richmond, Virginia, on April 2, aboard a Toyota Supra bearing the number 87.

Lessard will be on his first laps in the antechamber of the NASCAR Cup, he who has 35 starts in the Camping World Truck series. He had won his first (and only victory) at the Talledega track on October 3, 2020, while wearing the colors of Kyle Busch’s team.

“I always mentioned that my goal was to return to racing in the United States, said the driver from Saint-Joseph-de-Beauce, in an interview with the Newspaper Thursday. It is a step in the right direction. »

“It’s a new team with rather limited means, he continued, but this offer, I could not refuse it. She wants to focus on races that will take place near the team’s workshop located in Mooresville, North Carolina. At least, for now. »

Turnkey

Any participation on the legendary Daytona circuit, on the occasion of the inaugural stage of the 2022 season, on February 19, is therefore excluded.

The 20-year-old pilot, who had to interrupt his journey on 1^er May 2021 in Vans, for lack of budget, will not have to spend money to reconnect with competition south of the border.

“It’s a turnkey wheel,” he says. For two or three races first, but I’m looking for financial partners to obviously do more. »

Owner and… politician

This new team was founded by JC Stout, a former driver in the defunct Nationwide series. The 38-year-old American is also running for governor of New York State this year. He could stand for election as an independent.

SQR Development has acquired chassis belonging to the prestigious team of Joe Gibbs.

Due to the arrival of Next Gen cars in 2022, all NASCAR Cup teams must dispose of their cars which are no longer eligible to race. Many teams involved in the Xfinity series see this as a great opportunity to renew their inventory.

“It is indeed possible to convert them, says Lessard, subject to modifications to comply with the regulations in the Xfinity series. »

See also