Barre, VT — After several weeks of speculation, Vallee-Jonction, Quebec’s Raphael Lessard has staked his claim on the Milton CAT American-Canadian Tour in 2025. Piloting the iconic Larue Motorsports #48QC, the two-time and defending Serie ACT Quebec champion is looking to be the first Canadian since 2008 to bring the fabled international championship back across the border!

Denis and Louis Larue have long played a role in Quebec’s Late Model scene with their Larue Motorsports #48 being piloted to wins with Andre Beaudoin, Karl Allard and Alex Labbe, among others, over the years. Their contributions to international stock car racing earned them the iconic Don MacTavish Award in 2013 and they’ve continued to invest in Late Model racing throughout their continued career. Raphael Lessard took over the reins in 2021 with William Larue, Denis’ son, adding another car to the stable as well.

Lessard also comes from an already renowned career at just 23-years-old. The St-Joseph native was once a contracted driver for Kyle Busch Motorsports, piloting to Super Late Model wins at Bristol Motor Speedway and Anderson Speedway’s Redbud 400 before taking Busch’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck to a win at Talladega Superspeedway in 2020. Now, in 2025, Lessard is ready to take on a new challenge.

“I’m really looking forward to racing the Milton CAT American-Canadian Tour championship this year, it’s something that I’ve always wanted to do especially with my guys at Larue Motorsport,” said Lessard. “We have been working together for 4 years now and I think this year is the perfect timing!”

Quebec’s young star already has two Milton CAT American-Canadian Tour wins to his credit after winning the CAN-AM 200 at Autodrome Montmagny in 2022 and 2024 and looks to use his knowledge of Quebec’s speedways to his advantage in 2025. “I know Autodrome Chaudière and Autodrome Montmagny really well, we have great speed there…but I’m super pumped to get to some new tracks, competition will be very good but we are ready to work hard all season!”

“We’re glad to have Raphael and the Larue Family join us for the 2025 season,” said ACT managing partner Cris Michaud. “Denis and Louis have always been some of our organization’s greatest supporters and Raphael will be a welcome addition to our already incredibly talented roster this season.”

Lessard looks to bring home the Milton CAT American-Canadian Tour championship over defending champ Gabe Brown, former champions D.J. Shaw and Joey Polewarczyk and perennial contender Derek Gluchacki while Kasey Beattie, Erick Sands and Tanner Woodard are also among the mighty looking to take the crown at season’s end! Sophomore competitors Jeremy Sorel and Cole Littlewood will also return with Cam Huntress and Shawn Swallow also returning to the fray. Quebec will once again send down Jonathan Bouvrette and Remi Perreault for the full slate with Sebastian Couture also throwing his hat in the ring!

The Milton CAT American-Canadian Tour championship chase begins in earnest on Sunday, April 13 with the 5th annual Northeast Classic at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The Milton CAT American-Canadian Tour Late Models will battle for 50 of the fastest laps of the year on the Magic Mile to kick off the 14-race schedule!

For more information about the American-Canadian Tour, contact the ACT offices at (802) 244-6963, media@acttour.com, or visit www.acttour.com. You can also get updates on Facebook and Twitter at @ACTTour.

For more information about Milton CAT, visit their website at www.miltoncat.com or get updates from their Instagram account at @milton_cat.