Raphael Lessard, driving the No. 19 FRL Express Chevrolet for Mike Bursley’s KBR Development team, captured the Valvoline Lap Leader award at Pensacola by pacing the field for 83 of the 200 laps. Lessard picked up the Valvoline Lap Leader award for the first time in his ARCA Menards Series career. Lessard ultimately came up short of winning the race and finished eighth after struggling during the final green flag stint of the ARCA Pensacola 200 Presented by Spectra Thermal Solutions.
Lessard placed sixth in General Tire Pole Qualifying and charged through the field quickly at the drop of the green flag. He worked his way up to leader Chandler Smith (No. 20 Craftsman Toyota) and eased into the lead on lap 39. Lessard continued to set a torrid pace and maintained his lead until the first caution of the race flew, relinquishing the top spot to Michael Self (No. 25 Sinclair Oil Toyota) during pit stops on lap 84. Undeterred, Lessard passed Self on under green on lap 123 and was pulling away until he was once again interrupted by a caution flag, losing the lead on pit road on lap 160. Lessard would not assume the lead again despite restarting on the outside of the front row.
Lessard was among the drivers that tested at Five Flags Speedway ahead of the race weekend, with team owner Mike Bursley bringing KBR Development cars to test for both Lessard and Carson Hocevar. Hocevar said at the test that the KBR cars came to work on long run speed, and it was apparent that the testing focus paid off as Lessard led most of his laps during long green flag runs. The ARCA Pensacola 200 marked the first time that he has led laps in his ARCA Menards Series career. The 17-year old Quebec native had previously appeared on the tour three times with his prior best finish of tenth coming at Winchester in 2017. Lessard told ARCA officials at Pensacola that as of now this was the lone AMS race on his 2019 schedule that will see him race three times in the NASCAR Gander Outdoor Truck Series for Kyle Busch Motorsports.
Lessard now sits atop the standings for the Valvoline Lap Leader award with 83 laps led. Michael Self enters the standings in second place with 68 laps led, all coming at Pensacola. Daytona winner Harrison Burton (No. 20 DEX Imaging Toyota) did not compete at Pensacola and drops to third with 48 laps led on the year. Chandler Smith is fourth with 38 laps led and Gus Dean (No. 32 CAB Installers/Baker Distributing Chevrolet) is fifth with 29 laps led.
The ARCA Menards Series will race next at Salem Speedway on April 14 in the first of two trips to the ultra-high-banked short track during the 2019 season. Last year, Chandler Smith led 117 laps in the spring race but crashed out on the final lap. He then proceeded to lead 199 laps and win in the fall to capture the season sweep of the Valvoline Lap Leader awards at Salem.
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