March 20, 2021 “Fr8Auctions 200”
(Stages 30/60/130 laps = 200.02 miles)
A special milestone for Derek Kraus: 50th race with NAPA as a primary sponsor.
This Saturday will mark an important milestone in the relationship between Derek Kraus and NAPA. Indeed since Derek arrived at Bill McAnally Racing (McAnally-Hilgemann Racing) in 2017, he has always worn the NAPA logo (and / or its derivatives) on his cars and firesuits. In Atlanta, not far away of the NAPA headquarters, it will be the 87th time (89 if we take into account the 2 races with DGR-Crosley in 2018 in NASCAR K&N Pro Series East) that Derek will proudly wear their colors. And more specifically it will be the 50th time that NAPA has been Derek Kraus' main sponsor in a NASCAR race. A great longevity in a partnership which has had many successes together.
*And I do not take into account the SLM races.
The 13th annual race at Atlanta should see Derek Kraus and his new crew chief Matt Noyce secure their first top 5 of the season. And why not victory? Because last year, when he was discovering the 1.5 mile track in Hampton, GA, he had been remarkably efficient by securing a nice 7th position. He even pocketed the points for 3rd position during the 2nd stage. This allowed him to return to the top 10 in the championship.
This year, same thing, no practice nor qualifying session. Due to his disappointment in Las Vegas (32nd, the engine had lost power shortly after the start of the race) and his position in the championship (24th), Derek will have to start the race beyond the 20th position. You will have to be fast while preserving your tires to move up the rankings in the 1st stage. The main thing will be to be around the top10 to start the final stage. The Atlanta track is a tire killer. Its old abrasive and uneven surface does not forgive in case of excessive slips. But that's exactly the type of oval Derek likes.
And Derek regained some confidence after his excellent return to the ARCA West Series in Phoenix where he obtained a nice 5th position last week despite some mechanical problems at the start of the race.
But the competition will be tough with his opponents to which we must add Kyle Busch.
The No. 19 @NAPAAutoCare @GatesIndustrial @ToyotaRacing driven by @derek9kraus will line up 29th for Saturday's @NASCAR_Trucks #Fr8Auctions200 at @amsupdates pic.twitter.com/mcz2fNRlO9
— Bill McAnally Racing (@BMR_NASCAR) March 18, 2021
Note the return to the age of 60 of Bill Lester after almost 15 years of absence from NCWTS! His last race being Nashville, August 11, 2007! Atlanta he has known well having done 6 races in NCWTS with a 15th position as the best result. But it dates back to 2004! Derek Kraus was not even 3 years old then! But it was also in Atlanta that Bill made his first Cup Series start in 2006. But Bill will not be the oldest of the race, as this honor remains to Norm Benning at 69 years old!
Good news concerning the 5 members of the pit crews since the quintet remains the same from Las Vegas. This stability race after race is one of the keys to success. Because it's from cohesion that performance is born!
GO Derek GO !!
Entry list, starting lineup and much more- Click Here
Race live this Saturday on FS1 at 2:30 p.m. ET
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