🇨🇦 Raphael Lessard

Raphael Lessard is a Canadian stock car racing driver who competed in the NASCAR Truck Series across three seasons from 2019 to 2021. Over 35 starts in that period, he secured one win and three podium finishes, averaging a 16th-place finish. His competitive level, as reflected in a Racer Rating of 4,032, places him in the upper tier of a strong professional stock car field. Lessard faced a consistent roster of competitors who represent the calibre of the series; among them were FIA Silver graded Todd Gilliland and FIA Gold Matt Crafton, as well as championship-winning drivers such as Austin Hill. Against this field, Lessard showed a mixed record; he finished ahead of Gilliland in 16 of 35 shared races but trailed Creed, Hill, and Rhodes in the majority of their encounters.[1]

The data shows occasional moments of strength against significantly higher-rated drivers. Lessard finished ahead of Kyle Larson, a FIA Gold graded two-time champion, once during his tenure; he also beat Chase Briscoe, who rates considerably higher, in two races and topped Chase Elliott, an FIA Platinum driver, in a single outing. These results remain isolated instances rather than patterns of competitive dominance at that level. His overall trajectory in the Truck Series saw declining activity; by his final season in 2021, he made seven starts and finished 25th in points, recording one podium. Lessard retired from regular NASCAR competition after 2021, though headlines from 2026 suggest subsequent involvement in European racing ventures with Alumitec Racing.[2]