Date: June 7, 2020
Event: Vet Tix Camping World 200 (Race 4 of 23)
Series: NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series
Location: Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway (1.5-mile quad-oval)
Format: Three Stages; 30 laps/30 laps/76 laps
Start/Finish: 19th /18th (Running, completed 136 of 136 laps)
Winner: Grant Enfinger of Thorsport Racing (Ford)

Raphael Lessard was relegated to an 18th place finish in the Vet Tix Camping World 200 at Atlanta Motor Speedway in his first start at the 1.5-mile speedway. The young driver started in the 19th position. The Canadian teenager looked to score his first top-10 finish of the 2020 season before a tire rub in NASCAR Overtime relegated him to a 19th-place finish. Due to the disqualification of the No. 13, Lessard was scored with an 18th place finish.

Stage One Recap

· During the competition caution on Lap 12, Lessard radioed to his crew that he was loose in the middle of the corners. At the time of caution, he was running in the 13th position. Due to the limited number of laps, crew chief Mike Hillman Jr. kept the Mobil1 Tundra on the track.

· Lessard would remain on the lead lap for the remainder of the stage to finish in the 13th position.

Stage Two Recap

· Before the start of Stage Two, Lessard radioed to the crew that his Tundra was way too free at the end of the run. He also told the crew the truck was running loose but was comfortable with it. The young driver brought the Tundra down pit road for tires, fuel and adjustments. He would restart in the 13th position.

· During the fourth caution of the day on Lap 53, Lessard radioed the crew and said that he was still battling a loose race truck, but he did not want it tight. Crew chief Mike Hillman Jr. brought him down pit road for tires, fuel and adjustments. The young driver was told to maintain his pace as the stage end was less than five laps away. He would restart in the 11th position

· The No. 4 Mobil1 team finished the second stage in the eighth position.

Final Stage Recap

· After pitting during the fourth caution, Lessard and the No. 4 Mobil1 Tundra stayed out on the racetrack. During the previous run, Lessard said the truck was tighter on the bottom of the racetrack, would have a four tire slide coming off the corner, and is hitting the track in Turns 1 and 2. The young driver was told that he would be fine hitting the turns. He would start the second stage in the fifth position.

· When the final stage went green on lap 67, Lessard worked his way up to the third position but began to fall back as guys with fresher tires moved toward. As the run progressed, the rookie driver was told to keep doing what he was doing as the run progressed.

· On Lap 96, Hillman called Lessard down pit road for tires and fuel. After pit stops cycled through, Lessard was told that he was running top-five lap times with fresher tires.

· Lessard was looking for a top-15 run, but the caution flew on Lap 129 to set up a green-white-checkered finish. He was sitting 13th at the time of caution. He was brought down pit road for tires and would restart in the seventh position.

· During the final restart, Lessard suffered a tire rub and nursed the Mobil1 Tundra to the checkered flag to finish in the 19th position.

· Due to a tire violation found in post-race technical inspection on the No. 13 Truck, Lessard will be credited with an 18th-place finish.

Raphael Lessard, Driver Of The No. 4 Mobil1 Tundra For Kyle Busch Motorsports

“What a race. It was my first time at Atlanta. It was a lot of fun. I love the racetrack. It’s not the result that we wanted. I felt like we could run in the top-five or top-10 for most of the race. We were just a little bit too loose. At the end, I’m sorry for all my guys, but it was a racing incident. I was going for it. I tried everything, and it is one of those deals where on the green-white-checkered, you don’t want to lift. I didn’t get the result I was hoping. I hit the wall, but oh well. Thanks to Mobil1, Toyota, and everyone at Kyle Busch Motorsports. We will go get them next time at Homestead.”

Vet Tix Camping World 200 Recap

· Grant Enfinger picked up his fourth career NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Series victory and second of 2020. Austin Hill crossed the strip 0.215 seconds behind Enfinger in the runner-up position. Christian Eckes came home third, Todd Gilliland was fourth and Zane Smith rounded out the top-five finishers.

· The race featured six cautions for a total of 28 laps. There were 14 lead changes among seven drivers.

How Lessard’s KBM Teammates Fared

· Christian Eckes, driver of the No. 18 Toyota, finished third.
· Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 51 Toyota, finished 21st.

Gander Trucks Championship Standings

After four events, Lessard ranks 15th in the Gander Trucks championship standings. The rookie of the year candidate sits 79 tallies behind points leader Austin Hill.

Next Race

Lessard will be back behind the wheel of the No. 4 Tundra when the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series resumes action June 13 at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway. Live coverage of the Baptist Health 200 begins Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET on FS1.

** RDS, RDS DIRECT and Fox Sports Racing will present all races of the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series 2020 season.