DOVER, Del. – The looks of Dover International Speedway can be intimidating for anyone, especially it steep and swift banking off Turn 2 and onto the backstretch but none of that mattered for rookie Raphael Lessard Thursday afternoon at the “Monster Mile.”
Making his second of three planned starts for Kyle Busch Motorsports in Friday’s JEGS 200, Lessard paced the field during the first practice session on Thursday afternoon and then backed it up with a solid top-10 effort during final practice.
Showcasing the speed and finesse as a rookie was impressive during practice day – but the 200 laps in the sixth race of the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series season is the real opportunity for the Canadian teenager to display his ability.
“It felt pretty good,” said Lessard of practice. “It was pretty crazy with the high banks. It felt like you are jumping into the corner. I am really excited. P1 in the first practice, for my first time here, was pretty awesome.
“it’s not easy. I was telling myself; I was just going to get used to the place. The first run out, I am like, it feels crazy. It feels like a roller coaster and I said those guys are doing it so I will to. That is what we did, and we ended up P1.
“Second practice we focused on long-run stuff, for the race, to get better and I think we got the truck better and I got better too. Just need to work on myself a little bit during the race. Hopefully, we can qualify in the top ten because it is super hard to pass here, so if I can be out front it will be easier for me.”
In his first start at Martinsville Speedway, Lessard also showed speed during practice and qualifying driving for KBM and while the end result was solid, Lessard knows he needs more and wants more, it’s just a process.
“I know in Martinsville, my first race, I was very fast in qualifying and stuff,” added Lessard. “But I need to get better during the race, and that’s the goal (Friday).”
In order to get the finish, he embraces, Lessard knows his communication has to be on point and he has to stay out of trouble.
“To just to make the right call, for me, what I need to be good at the end of the race,” added Lessard. “The guys at Kyle Busch Motorsports and my crew chief are really good, so I am just going to have to tell him what I need, and I know he is going to do the right adjustment.”
When it comes to winning, Lessard is hungry to win. And knowing he has less opportunity to win races with the limited amount of seat time, winning becomes a priority with very every race, but Lessard realizes if you can’t win, finishing the race is important too.
“You always have to win,” he added. “You always want to win, but it is only my second truck race and my first time at a race track like this and the air is going to matter a bit here in passing guys. I think I am just going to hope for the best finish I can get and I am just going to do my best.”
Team owner Busch said that while Dover will be the biggest track of Lessard’s career — he is optimistic about his potential after qualifying seventh.
“We talked a little bit this week about coming here and being prepared for it, so it was nice to be able to help him out and get him up to speed a little bit to see that they had speed at least,” said Busch. “I hope they can do a good job. This is the biggest track he has ever seen or been on and the fastest he has ever gone; it will be a big learning experience for him.”
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01
