Driver Security and Respect For Competitors Shortens Raphael Lessard’s Race at the All American 400

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Raphaël Lessard, the St-Joseph-de-Beauce (QC) driver, left the All American 400 in Nashville, empty-handed despite excellent results in his qualification run. The Toyota Racing Development (TRD) driver ended his day’s work after only 216 of the 400-lap race.

Raphaël, driver of the Toyota Camry #99 FRL Express/Toyota-TRD/JBL Audio prepared by David Gilliland Racing was not able to complete the race due to many mechanical problems and a race incident.

The race had started relatively well with Raphaël starting in 11th place. Unfortunately, early in the race Raphaël had mechanical issues and had to come into the pits while the race was still going on. Unfortunately for him, he crossed the blend line on his way out, resulting in a black flag and a drive-through penalty. The driver was then two laps down behind the leaders.

Even as winner of the “lucky dog”, which meant he was reinserted on the leader’s lap following a yellow flag, Raphaël still had to make a stop in the pits to make adjustments, again while the race was going on. Losing precious time, he came back on the track, despite being several laps down.

Raphaël’s race came to an end when a competitor had a crash, and came down on Lessard’s car, forcing him to make a pit stop once more. It is then that both the team and the driver decided to park the car for the remainder of the race, out of respect for the other drivers as well as for Raphaël’s own security.

It is with a 6-men mechanics team that David Gilliland started the weekend. His crew was determined to see Raphaël succeed, but the car didn’t seem to cooperate and rather than taking an unnecessary risk for Raphaël, and his competitors, the decision not to complete the race was taken.

“I am certainly very disappointed”, says Raphaël. “But I can’t do anything about it and there is nothing left to do butturn the page and concentrate on the next race, the Winchester 400. One month ago, I finished 3rd at the Winchester Speedway, I intend to be successful once again.”

Raphaël can still be pleased with his time this weekend as he was very close to the fastest qualifiers, only separated by hundredths of seconds.

Raphaël’s next race will be on October 8th for a second 400-lap race at the Winchester Speedway for the Winchester 400.

RLR PR

Speedway Digest Staff
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