Salem, IN (July 17, 2018) – Rapheal Lessard came into Monday’s Parallax Power Supply Redbud 400 Presented by Mitch Smith Auto Service and Perfecto Tool & Engineering at Anderson Speedway looking for some redemption after almost winning last year’s event, Lessard got that redemption after a tough battle and an outside pass of Johnny Vandoorn.
“It’s pretty cool because last year, we came so close,” Lessard remarked in victory lane. “Every time someone talked to me about it, they were like, you should’ve won that thing last year. Now I can say I won it this year, so I’m just super pumped. I can’t thank my parents and family back home and everyone that helped me in my career. I’m super excited because last year I didn’t really have any wins, and now I have two big wins already this year. I’m just ready for more.”
The ARCA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS 400 lap event was started by Monday afternoon’s practice times after qualifying was rained out. Heavy rain pelted the track for several hours, but the track worked for over two hours drying and moving water from the racing surface. The event took the green flag shortly after 9pm, almost a two hours after the scheduled 7:30 start time.
VanDoorn was the EDCO Welding Fast Qualifier from the practice times, he took full advantage of his pole starting position to grab the early lead. VanDoorn held the lead through the first 191 laps, holding off a hard charging Dalton Armstrong on several restarts. The two made contact on lap 191 trying to get around a lap car on the tight quarter mile track. VanDoorn spun and made contact with the turn one wall. VanDoorn’s crew was able to make hasty repairs and get him back on the track.
Armstrong led for one lap under yellow, but pitted with most of the field. ARCA Midwest Series points leader Austin Nason took the lead on the restart at lap 193 and led through lap 252 before Armstrong went back to the front on lap 253.
Lessard use the outside groove all night to gain positions and took the lead from Armstrong on lap 283 and led until making a second pit stop on lap 295. Hunter Jack took the lead on the next restart, but a hard charging VanDoorn had worked his way back into contention and passed Jack to take the lead back on lap 306. Lessard then made his final charge to the front to catch VanDoorn and tried to pass inside then outside for several laps before powering by on the outside to take the lead on lap 368. A late caution set of a final five lap shoot out, Lessard held off Stephen Nasse to keep the lead and cruised to the victory, his second series victory of the season.
Lessard added, “We started 12th in the beginning and I didn’t know what was going to happen. It’s pretty far back and when a wreck happens in front of you, you’ve got nowhere to go, so I was kind of worried. I got to the front pretty early and just tried to stay out of trouble. My car was a little bit loose at the beginning, but we worked on it and at the end it was the best car out there. I just did what I had to do and Kyle Busch Motorsports brought me an awesome Mobil 1 Toyota Camry.”
Lessard received $15,000 for the victory. For his pass of VanDoorn for the lead, Lessard picked up the AR Bodies Cool Move of the Race Award. Lessard joins team owner Kyle Busch as a winner of the prestigious Redbud 400.
Nasse crossed the line in second, but was penalized by CRA officials for rough driving on the last lap when he got into second place running Josh Brock, causing Brock to spin and make hard contact with the fourth turn wall.
VanDoorn finished in second, his crew picked up the PitBoxes.com Pit Crew of the Race award for their hasty repairs after his spin and contact with the turn one wall. Nason finished in third. Steve Dorer came from his 21st starting position to finish in fourth, picking up the Hamner Racing Engines Hard Charger Award and a Hoosier Racing Tire Performance Award. Dorer was one of the last cars to pit for his final two tires, then charged through the field to make a late race run for his top five finish.
2017 event winner Steve Wallace finished in fifth place. CRA SpeedFest 2018 winner Chandler Smith came from his 16th place starting position to finish in sixth picking up a Hoosier Racing Tire Performance Award. Jack would hang on to finish in seventh. Eddie Van Meter finished in eighth. Greg Van Alst overcame a couple of spins and several pit stops to finish in ninth and earn the FLUIDYNE High Performance Cool Under Pressure Award. Former series Champion Chuck Barnes Jr., rounded out the top ten. Jon Beach picked up the Senneker Performance Rookie of the Race Award for his 15th place finish.
The next ARCA/CRA Super Series event will be at Baer Field Motorsports Park on Saturday, July 28th. More information on the ARCA/CRA Super Series can be found at www.cra-racing.com.
Salem, IN (July 17, 2018) – Rapheal Lessard came into Monday’s Parallax Power Supply Redbud 400 Presented by Mitch Smith Auto Service and Perfecto Tool & Engineering at Anderson Speedway looking for some redemption after almost winning last year’s event, Lessard got that redemption after a tough battle and an outside pass of Johnny Vandoorn.
“It’s pretty cool because last year, we came so close,” Lessard remarked in victory lane. “Every time someone talked to me about it, they were like, you should’ve won that thing last year. Now I can say I won it this year, so I’m just super pumped. I can’t thank my parents and family back home and everyone that helped me in my career. I’m super excited because last year I didn’t really have any wins, and now I have two big wins already this year. I’m just ready for more.”
The ARCA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS 400 lap event was started by Monday afternoon’s practice times after qualifying was rained out. Heavy rain pelted the track for several hours, but the track worked for over two hours drying and moving water from the racing surface. The event took the green flag shortly after 9pm, almost a two hours after the scheduled 7:30 start time.
VanDoorn was the EDCO Welding Fast Qualifier from the practice times, he took full advantage of his pole starting position to grab the early lead. VanDoorn held the lead through the first 191 laps, holding off a hard charging Dalton Armstrong on several restarts. The two made contact on lap 191 trying to get around a lap car on the tight quarter mile track. VanDoorn spun and made contact with the turn one wall. VanDoorn’s crew was able to make hasty repairs and get him back on the track.
Armstrong led for one lap under yellow, but pitted with most of the field. ARCA Midwest Series points leader Austin Nason took the lead on the restart at lap 193 and led through lap 252 before Armstrong went back to the front on lap 253.
Lessard use the outside groove all night to gain positions and took the lead from Armstrong on lap 283 and led until making a second pit stop on lap 295. Hunter Jack took the lead on the next restart, but a hard charging VanDoorn had worked his way back into contention and passed Jack to take the lead back on lap 306. Lessard then made his final charge to the front to catch VanDoorn and tried to pass inside then outside for several laps before powering by on the outside to take the lead on lap 368. A late caution set of a final five lap shoot out, Lessard held off Stephen Nasse to keep the lead and cruised to the victory, his second series victory of the season.
Lessard added, “We started 12th in the beginning and I didn’t know what was going to happen. It’s pretty far back and when a wreck happens in front of you, you’ve got nowhere to go, so I was kind of worried. I got to the front pretty early and just tried to stay out of trouble. My car was a little bit loose at the beginning, but we worked on it and at the end it was the best car out there. I just did what I had to do and Kyle Busch Motorsports brought me an awesome Mobil 1 Toyota Camry.”
Lessard received $15,000 for the victory. For his pass of VanDoorn for the lead, Lessard picked up the AR Bodies Cool Move of the Race Award. Lessard joins team owner Kyle Busch as a winner of the prestigious Redbud 400.
Nasse crossed the line in second, but was penalized by CRA officials for rough driving on the last lap when he got into second place running Josh Brock, causing Brock to spin and make hard contact with the fourth turn wall.
VanDoorn finished in second, his crew picked up the PitBoxes.com Pit Crew of the Race award for their hasty repairs after his spin and contact with the turn one wall. Nason finished in third. Steve Dorer came from his 21st starting position to finish in fourth, picking up the Hamner Racing Engines Hard Charger Award and a Hoosier Racing Tire Performance Award. Dorer was one of the last cars to pit for his final two tires, then charged through the field to make a late race run for his top five finish.
2017 event winner Steve Wallace finished in fifth place. CRA SpeedFest 2018 winner Chandler Smith came from his 16th place starting position to finish in sixth picking up a Hoosier Racing Tire Performance Award. Jack would hang on to finish in seventh. Eddie Van Meter finished in eighth. Greg Van Alst overcame a couple of spins and several pit stops to finish in ninth and earn the FLUIDYNE High Performance Cool Under Pressure Award. Former series Champion Chuck Barnes Jr., rounded out the top ten. Jon Beach picked up the Senneker Performance Rookie of the Race Award for his 15th place finish.
The next ARCA/CRA Super Series event will be at Baer Field Motorsports Park on Saturday, July 28th. More information on the ARCA/CRA Super Series can be found at www.cra-racing.com.
