August 20, 2021 “Toyota 200 presented by CK Power” (Stages 55/110/160 laps = 200 miles)
By Nascarvd Nascarvédé
“The Gateway Arch of Glory!”
The 2021 Playoffs begin this Friday at the World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway located in Madison, Illinois. This atypic oval, created in 1997, shaped like an egg, much like Darlington, SC has done quite well so far in Derek Kraus’s .
Last year in his rookie season he finished the race in 13th position, his worst career result on this oval. Indeed, during his years in NASCAR K&N Pro Series, he had dominated in 2018 by winning the combined West/East race after leading almost the entire 3rd segment. The following year he got an excellent 2nd position after starting 12th. However, this 2nd position had had a bitter taste as the race had been cut off from the last 27 laps due to time constraints preventing Derek, whose car was flying on the track, to take 1st position.
This year, with the race in the Playoffs, Derek will only have one mission, to win it! No more calculations to do. There are seven races left before the end of the season and after poles, top10s, top5s, only one victory is missing from his CV in NCWTS.
And with a sponsor named "Gates Hydraulics" it would be stylish to win not far from the "Gateway Arch" of St. Louis!
Let's forget about Watkins Glen and focus on this race. With its banking of 11 ° in turns 1 and 2, 9 ° in turns 3 and 4 and 3 ° in the two straights. It will be necessary to make choices in the setup of the Toyota Tundra #19 NAPA Belts & Hoses / Gates Hydraulics. The first pair of turns being much tighter than the second.
Derek will start from 17th position. And that may be a good omen because last year Sheldon Creed won the race just starting from 17th position!
The No. 19 Gates Hydraulics/NAPA Belts & Hoses @ToyotaRacing with @derek9kraus will start 17th in Friday's #Toyota200 at @WWTRaceway pic.twitter.com/ualfjycveE
— Bill McAnally Racing (@BMR_NASCAR) August 18, 2021
Due to the geographic remoteness with the Cup and Xfinity races in Brooklyn, Michigan, Derek will have a new spotter in Brian Tedeschi. Originally from Custer Park, IL, he will take on this role at McAnally -Hilgemann Racing for the first time at age 25. He won't be the only new member of MHR as Andrew Diehl, 24, from Leonardtown, Maryland, was just hired by the team a few days ago (August 10). Until then he worked for JD Motorsports with Gary Keller in NXS as car chief, mechanic and even Front changer successively on cars #0, 4 and 6.
Among the entries are Ty Majeski and the newcomers Armani Williams and Derek Griffith. Ah yes I forgot, there will also be Josh Berry ... Hoping that the latter will avoid putting Derek in the wall as he had done in Nashville...
Thank you to the entire @BMR_NASCAR team for all of the hard work throughout the regular season. Sure wish we could be in the playoffs.
— Derek Kraus (@derek9kraus) August 10, 2021
But there are 7 races left for us to go try and win! On to @WWTRaceway! pic.twitter.com/jkpcYKM5VS
That's it for today, I'll try to introduce you to another MHR #19 team member soon.
GO Derek GO !!
Entry list, starting lineup and much more here: www.racing-reference.info/race/2021-16/C
Race live this Friday on FS1 at 9:00 p.m. ET
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