MOORESVILLE, N.C. – GMS Racing officials announced Monday morning that Raphael Lessard will no longer drive for the team in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
“Due to unfortunate circumstances, Raphael Lessard will no longer compete in the No. 24 for GMS Racing for the remainder of the 2021 season,” a statement from GMS Racing read. “Information on the No. 24 entry will be announced at a later date.”
Lessard joined GMS Racing in the offseason after departing Kyle Busch Motorsports. In seven starts for GMS Racing this year Lessard earned one top-five and two top-10 finishes with a best finish of third during the Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway dirt event in March.
In a press release on his website, Lessard revealed the decision was made to end his Truck Series campaign early amid sponsorship troubles and to better focus on finding sponsorship for the 2022 season.
“My management team and I have always believed in our ultimate success and we still do,” Lessard said. “Over the last years, we have focused all our energies on completing full seasons in the upper echelons of NASCAR, and we have achieved that goal recently. However, we are currently in a situation where we cannot continue this season, and it’s hard to accept that fact. All I have ever wanted is to be behind a steering wheel and win.”