Derek Kraus to Make NASCAR Cup Series Debut with Kaulig Racing

Kraus to Compete in Limited Schedule in the No. 16 Camaro ZL1

 

Kaulig Racing announced today that Derek Kraus will make his NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) debut in the No. 16 Western States Flooring Camaro ZL1 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

 

Kraus, who made eight NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) starts for Kaulig Racing in 2023 and earned three top-10 finishes, will also compete in a limited NCS schedule in the team’s No. 16 Camaro ZL1.

 

“I’m really excited to make my first Cup Series start with Kaulig Racing, the team that I also made my Xfinity Series debut with!” said Kraus. “I’m thankful to Matt Kaulig and Chris Rice for believing in me, as well as Western States Flooring, a partner that has supported me throughout my career. I can’t wait to get to work with Travis Mack’s group and see what we can do in Las Vegas.”

 

Although he will make his first NCS start in Las Vegas, Kraus practiced and qualified the No. 16 Camaro ZL1 in 2023 at Richmond Raceway, while teammate, AJ Allmendinger, competed in the NXS race at Road America before flying to Richmond to compete in the NCS race that Sunday.

 

“We’re excited to have Derek Kraus make his first Cup start with us at Kaulig Racing,” said Chris Rice, president of Kaulig Racing. “Not only did he practice in the No. 16 last year for AJ Allmendinger, but Derek is our simulator driver that helps get our setups ready each week. We know what Derek is capable of, and we can’t wait to see what he can do starting in Las Vegas.”

 

Following his NCS debut at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Kraus will compete in the following races:

 

• Shriners Children’s 500 at Phoenix Raceway
• AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway
• Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway
• Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway
• NASCAR Cup Series Championship race at Phoenix Raceway

Really excited for this opportunity with @KauligRacing in a CUP car! Thanks to @C_Rice1, @MattKaulig, and Western states flooring for the chance to live my dream! https://t.co/xyjjik0DlT

— Derek Kraus (@derek9kraus) February 22, 2024

 

source: Kaulig Racing Media

Camping World Truck Series on the Nashville Concrete

Playoff Bubble: Five spots Left to Fill in the Next Three Races

 

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will return to Music City, U.S.A. for the Rackley Roofing 200 at Nashville Superspeedway this Friday, June 24 at 8 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

 

Nashville Superspeedway is a 1.33-mile, D-shaped, all concrete oval located just outside Nashville, Tennessee. The first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Nashville Superspeedway was on August 10, 2001, and the race was won by Scott Riggs driving a Dodge for team owner Jim Smith. Riggs dominated the event leading 131 of the 150 laps (87.3%).

 

In total, Nashville Superspeedway has hosted the Camping World Truck Series 14 times producing 11 different pole winners and 12 different race winners from 2001 to 2011 and 2021. ThorSport Racing’s Matt Crafton is the only series driver to make starts in all 14 previous Camping World Truck Series races at Nashville.

 

On-track activity for the Truck series will begin on Friday, June 24 with practice at 4 p.m. ET followed by qualifying at 4:30 p.m. ET on FS1. Nashville has produced 11 different Truck Series pole winners all-time, led by Mike Skinner (2005, 2007), Kyle Busch (2010, 2011), and Todd Bodine (2008, 2010) with two poles each.

 

Johnny Benson (2006, 2008) and Kyle Busch (2010, 2011) lead the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in wins at Nashville Superspeedway with two victories each. Last season’s Nashville race was won by Team DGR’s Ryan Preece, leading just eight laps of the total event. 

 

Let's go on a Trip 😤💰#TheTrip #CampingWorldTrucks pic.twitter.com/7qXPZuze70

— NASCAR Camping World Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) June 1, 2022

 

Playoff Bubble: Five spots Left to Fill in the Next Three Races

With three races left in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series regular season, time is winding down to make the Playoffs. As it stands, the last two drivers seated ninth and 10th in the series driver standings are Grant Enfinger and Matt Crafton. In Enfinger’s first season back with a new-look GMS Racing, he has racked up a solid three top-fives and seven top-10s for the year. Crafton, a long-tenured veteran on ThorSport Racing’s roster, sits just above the cutoff line with one top-five and seven top-10s. Heading into Nashville, Crafton will look to utilize his extensive experience of 14 starts at the track to distance himself from the cutoff line while Enfinger hopes to remain consistent.

 

Sitting below the cutline include a mix of eager drivers hoping to race for the championship. Derek Kraus of McAnally Hilgemann Racing leads this group sitting 27 points back from the cutoff line. The driver of the No. 19 Chevrolet had a solid weekend at Knoxville, starting the race from the pole position and finishing sixth. Kraus and his team aim to carry this speed into Nashville Superspeedway, a track where he also won the pole in 2021 and brought home a fifth-place finish. 

 

Excited to have @HunterNation back with us this season and on the 19 tomorrow night at @NashvilleSuperS! pic.twitter.com/nmNqNPDS0U

— Derek Kraus (@derek9kraus) June 23, 2022

 

Matt DiBenedetto sits just behind Kraus in the Playoff outlook standings at twelfth. In his first year driving the No. 25 Chevrolet for Rackley W.A.R., DiBenedetto has yet to finish a race in the top-five but has garnered six top 10s on the year. Coming into Nashville, he has two previous starts in two different series. He finished 10th driving part-time for Joe Gibbs Racing’s NASCAR Xfinity Series team in 2010 along with a 24th-place finish last year in the NASCAR Cup Series for Wood Brothers Racing. Being 43 points back from the cutline, DiBenedetto will need to lock in competitively for the next three races if he wants to point his way into the Playoffs.

 

In a similar situation, Tanner Gray hopes to gain ground on those ahead of him with a dwindling number of races to do so. The 21-year-old from Artesia, New Mexico sits 50 points back from potentially making the Playoffs in his third year of full-time Camping World Truck Series racing. The No. 15 Team DGR Ford has shown glimpses of speed with Gray behind the wheel. His most recent finish at Nashville, 18th, came after having to start from the rear of the field. He will look to make the same kind of headway toward the front this weekend as he hopes to add another Ford into the Playoff bracket.

 

Tyler Ankrum, 14th in the series Playoff outlook, still has a shot to point his way into the Playoffs. Coming off two straight top-10 finishes at Sonoma and Knoxville; the driver of the No. 16 Hattori Racing Enterprises Toyota has had a streak of solid runs. Ankrum will need to improve on a 23rd-place finish last year at Nashville if he hopes to keep his Playoff hopes alive.

 

• Next Race: Rackley Roofing 200  
• The Place: Nashville Superspeedway  
• The Date: Friday, June 24  
• The Time: 8 p.m. ET  
• TV: FS1, 7:30 p.m. ET  
• Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio  
• Distance: 199.5 miles (150 Laps)
• Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 45)
• Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 95)
• Final Stage (Ends on Lap 150)

 

source: NASCAR Media

MHR Launches Into 2022 With Major Changes

Aligns with Chevrolet, Alliance with GMS, Expands To 2 Trucks

 

McAnally-Hilgemann Racing is launching into 2022 with major changes, as the team advances its NASCAR Camping World Truck Series program.

 

MHR, entering its third full season in the series, is expanding to a two-truck operation and is aligning with Chevrolet as it fields Chevrolet Silverados beginning this season.

 

The team has moved into a 57,000-square-foot shop that is part of the GMS Racing operation in Statesville, North Carolina – as part of an alliance that has been formed between the two teams.

 

“This is a great opportunity to be part of Chevrolet’s racing program in the Camping World Truck Series and to work with a team the caliber of GMS Racing,” said team co-owner Bill McAnally. “We’re excited to make these advances as we build and expand our operation with a second full-time truck.”

 

Derek Kraus – a 20-year-old from Stratford, Wisconsin – will continue with the team, driving the No. 19 MHR Chevrolet Silverado.

 

Colby Howard, also 20, of Simpsonville, South Carolina, has joined the team and will drive the No. 91 MHR Chevrolet Silverado. MHR announced that Gates Corporation is coming on board and will serve as the primary sponsor on that entry.

 

Mark Hillman, who joined the team last year and served as crew chief with Kraus on the No. 19, becomes the team manager and will also be Howard’s crew chief on the No. 91. Champion NASCAR crew chief Shane Wilson has come on board at MHR to serve as the crew chief for Kraus in the No. 19.

 

Wilson first worked for McAnally as a crew chief just over 20 years ago, on a team that won back-to-back championships with driver Brendan Gaughan in what was then the NASCAR Winston West Series. The team advanced to the truck series – with Gaughan scoring two victories and winning the rookie title in 2002 and adding six more wins in 2003, while finishing fourth in the championship standings.

 

The new MHR shop is located on the GMS campus; in close proximity to facilities such as the chassis dyno, fabrication shop and body and paint shop – providing easy access to key resources, as part of the new alliance. Engineers from the two teams are working together in that relationship, as well. The GMS Racing campus includes the operations for Petty GMS Motorsports, a two-car, full-time NASCAR Cup Series team formed in 2021.

 

“This is an amazing opportunity for us,” McAnally said. “We were confident going into this alliance that it would be very beneficial for MHR. A meeting we had with GMS owner Maury Gallagher bolstered that confidence even more.

 

“We look forward to working with Mike Beam, Tom Ackerman and Bill Wheeler, along with Summer English,” McAnally said. “They have made this a great move for MHR to have our own facility at the GMS complex.”

 

McAnally noted the success GMS Racing has had since it was formed in 2012. GMS Racing has won five titles across multiple series, including the 2016 and 2020 Camping World Truck Series championship.

 

“We have great respect for what GMS Racing has accomplished,” McAnally said. “We’re working hard to achieve that kind of success, as we contend for wins and championships in the Camping World Truck Series.”

 

In making the expansion to a two-truck operation, MHR has purchased equipment from GMS – including 13 Chevrolet Silverados that were raced in competition last year.

 

McAnally’s history with Chevrolet can be traced back to the start of Bill McAnally Racing, when McAnally raced in local divisions at All American Speedway in Roseville, California. He captured his first NASCAR championship in a Chevrolet – winning the late model division title in NASCAR’s Weekly Racing Series at Roseville in 1990.

 

McAnally moved up to the NASCAR Winston West Series, which became the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West and later came under the ARCA banner. Overall, BMR has won 11 NASCAR K&N West/ARCA West championships – a record for the series and for NASCAR Regional Touring overall – and scored 106 overall wins in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series/ARCA Menards Series.

 

McAnally-Hilgemann Racing was formed at the beginning of 2020, when McAnally partnered with Bill and Mona Hilgemann to field an entry in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series on a full-time basis, with Kraus as the driver. Prior to that, Kraus had raced for BMR three seasons in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West – winning the series championship in 2019.

 

 

source: BMR Racing News

Derek Kraus: 2021 NCWTS at Martinsville Race Preview

October 30, 2021 “United Rentals 200” (Stages 50/100/200 laps = 105.2 miles)

By Nascarvd Nascarvédé

“Who wants a grandfather clock?"

 

Penultimate race of the season in NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for Derek Kraus and McAnally-Hilgemann Racing team. It is on the Martinsville Speedway paperclip in the city of the same name in Virginia that the 40 drivers will compete against each other. Because direct confrontation there will be. You can imagine that on this tiny 0.526-mile oval there is little place for 40 trucks!

 

This will be the 44th race in NCWTS history on this legendary oval. The only one who has been on the Cup Series calendar year after year since the origins of NASCAR. And it's the same since the inception of the Truck Series in 1995. At least one race per season, often two.

 

Grant Enfinger won the race last year. Derek finishing 10th. In 2019 for his first race at Martinsville he was heading for a great result when he was pushed on the last lap, finishing only 18th.

 

Ready for some exciting short-track racing. No. 19 @IncredibleBank @ToyotaRacing headed to @NASCAR_Trucks race at @MartinsvilleSwy on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/a8oh84R3Pj

— Bill McAnally Racing (@BMR_NASCAR) October 28, 2021

 

Once again no practice or qualifying session.. Metric system.. It is from 17th position that he will start this Saturday. Problems should be avoided. As Derek says himself, "Going to Martinsville, we’ve got to just try to stay clean and be there at the end."

 

It takes a victory to end this difficult sophomore season with a bang!

 

 

It is with the orange and white colors of Incredible Bank that we can easily follow the Toyota Tundra N°19. Kraus and the MHR team are participating in this year’s Honor A Cancer Hero campaign at Martinsville. 

Above the driver's door of the No. 19 Tundra, his name will be replaced this week with #BrooklynJeansTeam - to honor Brooklyn Jean Grishaber. She is from Kimberly, Wisconsin and has been battling leukemia since she was 9 years old. Taylor Haufschildt nominated her and selected Kraus because he is also from Wisconsin and has raced with many teams that support #BrooklynJeansTeam.

 

We think Brooklyn Jean's #dreambedroom is SPECTACULAR & from the pictures so does she!💕 Enjoy your very own #specialspace Brooklyn Jean ~ #brooklynjeansteam 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘂𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻'𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺 𝗮𝘁 𝗮 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲: https://t.co/37gxMu5Rm6 pic.twitter.com/ea3rE2CW7H

— Special Spaces (@SpecialSpacesUS) February 23, 2021

 

We're all with Brooklyn. Never give up. You are a very strong young girl!

 

Patiently waiting for @MartinsvilleSwy. pic.twitter.com/mnCx2B4uMg

— NASCAR Camping World Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) October 20, 2021

 

GO Derek GO !!

 

 

Entry list, starting lineup and much more here: www.racing-reference.info/race/2021-21/C

 

Race live this Saturday on FS1 at 1:00 p.m. ET

 

source: Nascarvd Nascarvédé

Derek Kraus: 2021 NCWTS at Talladega: Race Preview

October 2, 2021 “Chevrolet Silverado 250” (Stages 20/40/94 laps = 250.04 miles)

By Nascarvd Nascarvédé 

 

 

"This is Talladega !"

There are only three races left before the end of the 2021 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season. Only three more possibilities for Derek to win his first race of his career. We all know that the Talladega Superspeedway, like all Superspeedways, can be a real lottery to determine the winner. The risk of "Big One" is more present than ever on this kind of very fast track where the drivers ride in tight groups.

 

But Derek is comfortable in this type of race. Fourth at Daytona last year at the start of the season, he finished 10th at Talladega while having led 19 laps and won Stage 2.

 

This year he was involuntarily involved in an accident at Daytona when the green flag was waved… Like its 2021 season, this Daytona race was marked by bad luck...

 

But the annual visit to Alabama might smile on Derek. As with all races on Superspeedway since the start of his NCWTS career, Derek will be wearing Shockwave Marine Suspension Seating colors. The company of Canadian David Smith.

 

. @derek9kraus Focused On Getting Late-Season Win@NASCAR_Trucks Visits @TALLADEGA https://t.co/tF6gUHONJa pic.twitter.com/9JUuYhVQGp

— Bill McAnally Racing (@BMR_NASCAR) September 29, 2021

 

No practice or qualifying, Derek will start from 13th position. His place in the championship. He is 104 points from 11th position. It’s a realistic goal. Have the honorary title of best driver outside the Playoffs.

 

GO Derek GO !!

 

 

Entry list, starting lineup and much more here: www.racing-reference.info/race/2021-20/C

 

Race live this Saturday on FS1 at 1:00 p.m. ET

 

source: Nascarvd Nascarvédé

Derek Kraus: 2021 NCWTS AT Las Vegas: Race Preview

September 25, 2021 “Victoria’s Voice Foundation 200 presented by Westgate Resorts” (Stages 30/60/134 laps = 201 miles)

By Nascarvd Nascarvédé

 

"I bet everything on the 19"

 

A busy schedule for NASCAR in Las Vegas, in addition to the ARCA Menards West Series this Thursday at the Bullring, there will be all three National Series Friday through Sunday. And this Friday it's the Camping World Truck Series that kicks off at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. A 1.500 mile D-shaped oval.

 

Located in Las Vegas, Nevada, this oval has continuously hosted the NCWTS since 1996. At the rate of one race per year between 1996 and 2017 and two races per season since 2018.

 

This Friday will be the 29th race. Toyota is the manufacturer that largely dominates on this track with 12 victories over the last 20 races, including the last five consecutively. John Hunter Nemechek having won here in March. The title holder of the September race is Austin Hill from HRE, the team having a technical alliance with MHR it promises good performances for Austin and especially for the one we are interested in here, I named Derek Kraus. But we're going to keep our fingers crossed because if Derek has done four races here, he's never been successful. 27th in 2019, 22nd and 30th respectively last year and only 32nd last March. We will have to change the game table and bet everything on the No. 19!

 

No practice or qualifying. Derek will start from the 12th position. He will also have an excellent pit box, the number 14 which follows an opening gate to the garages. So there will be no one to hinder him from entering his box. He will thus be able to position his Toyota Tundra NAPA AutoCare well, which will facilitate the work of the crews.

 

The No. 19 @NAPAAutoCare @southpointlv @ToyotaRacing with @derek9kraus will line up 12th for Friday's @NASCAR_Trucks race at @LVMotorSpeedway pic.twitter.com/oFAyDhlGiX

— Bill McAnally Racing (@BMR_NASCAR) September 22, 2021

 

Speaking of crew member, today we're going to highlight Corey Coppola, Derek's Fueler. The 24-year-old is from Bluefield, West Virginia. Carrying the gas can isn't a problem for him, he's strong ! Because before occupying this position in NASCAR he was between 2016 and 2018 an NCAAF player with the Davidson Wildcats as Defensive Tackle.

 

He has been with McAnally-Hilgemann Racing since the Watkins Glen race. Previously he held this position at On Point Motorsports in NCWTS. But like many other mechanics, he holds the position for different teams in the three NASCAR National Series this season. At Stewart-Haas Racing in Cup and NXS. And also at RSS Racing or SS Green Light Racing in NXS. We count on him to properly fill Derek's tank!

 

 

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: https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/2021-19/C/

 

No practice or qualifying. Race live this Thursday on FS1 at 9:00 p.m. ET

 

 

source: Nascarvd Nascarvédé

Derek Kraus: 2021 NCWTS at Gateway: Race Preview

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.

But there are 7 races left for us to go try and win! On to @WWTRaceway! pic.twitter.com/jkpcYKM5VS

— Derek Kraus (@derek9kraus) August 10, 2021

 

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

 

 

 

 

source: Nascarvd Nascarvédé

Derek Kraus: 2021 NCWTS At Watkins Glen: Race Preview

August 8, 2021 “United Rentals 176 at the Glen” (Stages 20/45/72 laps = 176.4 miles)

By Nascarvd Nascarvédé

“We're going to eat the big apple!”

This Saturday the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series drivers meet in New York State. The legendary Watkins Glen Road Circuit will be the setting for the 15th and final race of the regular season. The last chance for many drivers to qualify for the Playoffs, including Derek Kraus. 

 

Currently 12th in the championship, he can mathematically still integrate the top10 synonymous with direct qualification to play the title. But on the sole condition of making a full box. Win the race and the first two stages. Because with 53 points behind Stewart Friesen he has no other choice. Or hope that Friesen and Chandler Smith (who is 40 points ahead of Derek) finish low in the standings and score the minimum number of points. Derek has already managed to score 52 points in Knoxville, his career personal best. As a reminder in NCWTS the maximum possible points in a race is 60. The "easiest" and safe for Derek is to win the race because it is the assurance of getting his entry ticket for the Playoffs regardless what his closest opponents in the driver standings will do in the race.

 

Watkins Glen has been on the NASCAR racing calendar since 1957. This hilly track has already seen all of the world's greatest disciplines in motorsports perform on its asphalt between its legendary light blue safety rails. F1, Indycar, IMSA, even the motorbikes of WSBK, and pretty much every series from NASCAR.

 

Derek knows the track having raced there in 2019 in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. Starting from the back of the peloton following unapproved adjustments, he was able to climb back into the top10 in 9th position. Unfortunately, the race was cut short due to the rain and lightnings.

 

But this experience will benefit him. Indeed, there will be neither practice nor qualifying session here. Directly the race.

 

 

Thanks to his last good results at Knoxville, he will start the race in 7th position. There will be 72 laps to go. The first two stages each counting 20 laps. It's a fairly short race in duration because the track is very fast. Last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic the race was canceled but if we look at the stats of the last race in 2019, the pole in the Cup Series was above 127 mph and over 124 mph in Xfinity Series. And since the NCWTS trucks are known to perform similarly to the NXS cars on the road tracks, this gives an idea of the speeds achieved on the long straight lines of the Glen. The first corner is the slowest on the circuit. The fan favorite place, the famous Esses or the Bus Stop chicane being are very fast portions.

 

Rumors have it that this will be the last time NASCAR uses the short version of Watkins Glen. The long version used in Indy or IMSA should be used from 2022. A wish of fans and especially drivers for more than ten years.

 

This weekend the #19 Toyota Tundra from McAnally-Hilgemann Racing will wear the Hunter Nation  blue and white colors for the 5th time this season. There will be 40 trucks at the start. The peculiarity of the pitlane is that it is the other way around... So the refueling is on the right and not on the left and it is on the driver's side that the tires are changed first in a 4-tire pit stop. But nothing was left to chance as MHR posted a video on their Twitter account of the pit crew training!

 

Note that on such a hilly road circuit and with the trees obstructing the spotter's vision, it is not one but two spotters that Derek will have the chance to hear through his helmet. After the interim in Knoxville assured by Jeff Gotelaer, it is the return of the usual Freddie Kraft who will be joined here by Anthony Warren. At 42, this former Late Models driver residing in Norfolk, Virginia, is an experienced spotter having worked with Kyle Larson, for example, for years. Since his K&N East period with REV Racing to Hendrick Motorsports in the Cup Series this year on the road crew and as an additional spotter. But he's also used to the NCWTS as he was Todd Gilliland's spotter in Knoxville.

 

No VD logo on Derek's truck this time around. Hopefully the 2 grams less will allow the #19 to be the fastest on the track!

 

Entry list, starting lineup and much more here: www.racing-reference.info/race/2021-14/C

 

Race live this Saturday on FS1 at 12:30 p.m. ET

 

The No. 19 @HunterNation @ToyotaRacing with @derek9kraus will start from the 7th spot in Saturday's @NASCAR_Trucks #UnitedRentals176 at @WGI pic.twitter.com/ORqRdalzyR

— Bill McAnally Racing (@BMR_NASCAR) August 4, 2021

 

 

 

source: Nascarvd Nascarvédé

Derek Kraus: 2021 NCWTS at Texas: Race Preview

June 12, 2021 “SpeedyCash.com 220” (Stages 35/70/147 laps = 220.5 miles)

By Nascarvd Nascarvédé

“Everything's bigger in Texas, even Victory Lane!”

Here we are, this is already the 11th race of the NCWTS season, meaning that at the end of this race we will be halfway through the championship. There are therefore only 5 races left in the regular season. Only 5 races to see Derek integrate the top10 of the championship and thus gain his place in the first phase of the 2021 playoffs. Currently Derek is 17th in the championship and is 87 points behind the 10th Carson Hocevar (264 to 177 points).

 

Giddy up.

IT’S RACEDAY, Y’ALL! 🤠 #SpeedyCash220 x #Alsco250 pic.twitter.com/a99IiOVsMH

— Texas Motor Speedway (@TXMotorSpeedway) June 12, 2021

 

The mission will be difficult as the competition is fierce, but it's possible. And besides, there's an easier way to get into the Playoffs. Which ? Win a race of course! And Texas could be the perfect setting to see Derek's first career victory. Why ? Because last year for his first race on the mile-and-a-half Texas oval, he was able to move up the field to finish 11th. Then when the series had returned 3 months later on this very fast oval, he had been able to use his knowledge of the track to obtain a top10 (9th) after scoring points during the 2nd stage and leading the race at the start of the last segment. Good omen for this year. Because with the experience and speed shown since the start of the season, if the #19 HunterNation Toyota Tundra from McAnally-Hilgemann Racing doesn't have any problems, the top 10 is assured. And on a fast track where he feels good and in addition with finally a good position at the start of the race (9th) following his top10 from Charlotte (8th), all hopes are allowed. Personally, I believe in it very strongly.

 

And you ?

 

I take this opportunity to congratulate another driver from the West Series who was an opponent of Derek, I named Jack Wood. The young Californian driver has just signed a contract to drive the #24 of GMS Racing until the end of the season. Except here in Texas where Chase Elliott will be behind the wheel of this very fast truck. Jack who started the season in ARCA East before moving to ARCA Menards at the national level and now in NCWTS all this in less than 5 months! At this rate he will be in the Cup Series from September!

 

There will also be Keith McGee in #33 of Reaume Brothers.

 

GO Derek GO !!

 

Entry list, starting lineup and much more here: www.racing-reference.info/race/2021-11/C

 

Race live this Saturday on FS1 at 1:00 p.m. ET

 

Looking forward to today’s race! The @ToyotaRacing Tundras are just made right down the road! Rolling off 9th! https://t.co/dFEHE77GJX

— Derek Kraus (@derek9kraus) June 12, 2021

 

 

source: Nascarvd Nascarvédé

Derek Kraus: 2021 NCWTS At Cota: Race Preview

May 22, 2021 “Toyota Tundra 225” (Stages 12/26/42 laps = 143.220 miles)

By Nascarvd Nascarvédé  

 

 

“Everything is bigger in Texas, even the width of the track!”

Now is the time for the second road race of the 2021 NCWTS season of the four on the schedule. The particularity being that it will be an inaugural race. Indeed, it's in Austin, Texas on the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) that the 9th race of the season will take place. The Toyota Tundra 225 will take place in 3 stages for a total of 42 laps. 

This is a 20-turn multi-elevational, 3.41 mile paved road course. The same circuit used by F1 or Indycar for example. A circuit designed by the famous German Hermann Tilke. The world's greatest parking engineer... With rare exceptions, he has been the author of all modern F1 circuits since the end of the 90s. And the least we can say is that he's very talented at designing circuits ... of shit ! Without souls, without flavors, without interest in 99% of cases. You just have to watch races, regardless of the motorsports series on these circuits. The fans are complaining and worse ... the drivers are complaining!

 

But with incredible luck COTA  is part of the remaining 1%. Namely a very beautiful circuit. It's hilly, has varied turns including a nice sequence of "S" (turns 3 to 6) in the purest style of what one can see in England at Silverstone. A benchmark circuit for F1 fans.

 

That's going to require some work. @NASCARatCOTA | 📺: FS2 pic.twitter.com/vA0O1bZdHO

— NASCAR Camping World Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) May 22, 2021

 

Only the part between turns 13 and 18 is not very interesting in terms of driving. And worse, it's impossible to overtake ...

 

Its construction began symbolically on December 31, 2010 and the first race took place on October 21, 2012. The track is very wide, even very very wide in places. Which will be a first in NASCAR, accustomed to “old-fashioned” road tracks like Watkins Glen or Elkart Lake or winding like Portland or Sonoma. The last time NASCAR visited a track with similar straights width was in 1954 at Linden Airport, NJ with Al Keller's victory in a Jaguar XK120.

 

What does this hold in store for us? A boring race as the 40 trucks will be scattered on such a circuit or on the contrary a crazy race with the phenomenon of draft that can generate the huge straights as if we were on a Super Speedway?

 

We will have a first element of response today. Because with this new track, the practice / qualifying / race format is back. This allows drivers and teams to find the right setups.

 

Like the vast majority of his colleagues, Derek Kraus  will discover COTA. However, some have already been able to test there in the past or even participate in it. This will be the case for many road ringers entered just for this race. And despite the fact that they ride for small teams, they could be talked about.

 

Excited to go to @COTA for the first time this weekend with our @NAPARacing @ToyotaRacing Tundra. We have practice and qualifying back too!

Practice: TODAY at 3pm EST (FS1)
Qualifying: Saturday at 9am EST (FS2)
Race: ⬇️⬇️⬇️ pic.twitter.com/o40HVfSYUC

— Derek Kraus (@derek9kraus) May 21, 2021

 

Derek just competed in the first BMRDA road race at Thunderhill Raceway Park, CA. A good way to get used to turning right and left again. Let's just hope that the #19 NAPA AutoCare / Gates Hydraulics NAPA Belts & Hoses of McAnally-Hilgemann Racing led by crew chief Mark Hillman will finally be spared some bad luck. Because this 2021 season is very difficult for them. Let us remember that the only top10 of the season was precisely obtained in the Daytona Road Course last February with a 7th position.

 

Note the debut in NCWTS of Jack Wood with GMS Racing, his team in ARCA. Another former opponent from Derek’s K&N West era arriving in a NASCAR national series.

 

GO Derek GO !!

 

Entry list, starting lineup and much more click here.

 

Race live this Saturday on FS1 at 1:10 p.m. ET

 

 

source: Nascarvd Nascarvédé

Derek Kraus: 2021 NCWTS at Darlington Race Preview

By Nascarvd Nascarvédé 

 

 

May 7, 2021 “Liftkits4less.com 200”
(Stages 45/90/147 laps = 200.802 miles)

“How avoiding a sophomore slump? By a win of course!”

 

This Friday it's the now traditional "Throwback Race" that awaits us in Darlington, South Carolina.

 

The old Lady in Black has been on the NASCAR schedule continuously since 1950. For the NCWTS this will be the 8th race in series history on this atypical 1,366 mile oval. After a first series of 4 races between 2001 and 2004, the trucks returned to it in 2010 and 2011 before a further hiatus until last year. A race won by Ben Rhodes. Ben who could tie the record of two NCWTS wins co-owned by Kasey Kahne and the late Bobby Hamilton, Sr.

 

If Ben Rhodes won last year, it was in large part thanks to a small slip by Derek Kraus during the last restart with 2 laps to go. Following an excellent strategy he was in the lead for the last restart. Despite everything, he had managed to keep the 2nd position under the checkered flag. What remains his best career result. Hopefully this year it’s on Victory Lane that we will find the young driver from Stratford, WI.

 

Since the arrival of Mark Hillman as crew chief, the speed is there, unfortunately the results are not yet. Blame it on incredible bad luck. When it's not a tire puncture, or a drop in engine power, it's sometimes a driving error that is the cause of the sinking ... A driving error? Yes, you read that right. Derek doesn't do a lot of errors. But it was the case in Kansas when he brushed the wall, messing up his Toyota Tundra. But Derek knows how to admit his mistakes without looking for false excuses. And that’s to his credit.

 

 

 

Like last year Derek will be wearing the historic colors of his sponsor NAPA Auto Parts. In 2020 it was a tribute to the 1996 championship of Ron Hornaday, Jr. This year it's again a former paint scheme of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. which is honored, that of Michael Waltrip when won the Daytona 500 in 2003. The McAnally-Hilgemann Racing's #19 Toyota Tundra is simply superb. As long as his destiny is also prolific and gets Derek into the 2021 Playoffs, it's ok for me. A win would be a fantastic result. And would help to forget that disappointing first third of the season. Indeed in the first 7 races, the #19 team only obtained one top10 (7th at Daytona RC) and two DNFs. Derek is 17th in the championship. Last year after the first 7 races, he was 11th in the championship with 4 top10s (including one top5). You must absolutely avoid the sophomore slump!

 

The No. 19 NAPA Power Premium Plus @ToyotaRacing driven by @derek9kraus will line up 20th in for Friday's @NASCAR_Trucks #NASCARThrowback race at @TooToughToTame . The MHR entry features the 2003 @NAPAKnowHow paint scheme that went to Victory Lane with @MW55 in the Daytona 500 pic.twitter.com/I3g6PmZv11

— Bill McAnally Racing (@BMR_NASCAR) May 5, 2021

Like all atypical tracks, Darlington suits Derek's riding style well. So let's keep our fingers crossed. Because in the modern world where only profitability and money count, I wouldn't get over a "Raphael Lessard issue" for my favorite Derek!

 

For those who did not follow, for lack of results and money this year, despite a victory last year, the young Quebecer Raphael Lessard has just lost his ride of the #24 Chevrolet at GMS. A real injustice in my opinion. Certainly the situation was a little different for Raphael who had to scramble to finance each race by finding sponsors. Derek and MHR having multiple sponsors this year. But what about the future? Getting a ticket to the Playoffs would be a real breath of fresh air.

 

Michael Waltrip was able to benefit from the name of his illustrious big brother Darrell, but also from the love of the fans. His very bankable side allowed him to have a long career before finally winning his first victory after 462 races in the Cup! But what was possible in the 1980s and 1990s is no longer possible. Derek doesn't plan to wait that long to win his first race anyway. That's good because me neither!

 

 

GO Derek GO !!

 

Entry list, starting lineup and much more here:

 

Race live this Friday on FS1 at 7:30 p.m. ET

 

 

source

Derek Kraus: 2021 NCWTS AT Kansas: Race Preview

UPDATE: By Nascarvd Nascarvédé 

But what bad luck this year for Derek Kraus. Everything had started well. Starting the race in 14th, he finished the 1st stage in 9th position (2 points). Then a good pit stop allowed him to start the 2nd stage in 8th position. A little loose at the restart and he lost 3 positions but came back quickly to seize the 7th position (4 more points!). 

 

Another very good pit stop allowed him to keep this 7th position for the restart of the last stage. But Johnny Sauter was pushing him in turn 1, almost in spin.. From that moment on Derek lost position after position. Descended to 22nd position. He would go up to 3rd position thanks to the pit stops of the leaders. While waiting for a yellow flag which will not come .... At least at the right time. 

 

After his last pit stop on the 113th lap, he found himself 26th.. One lap behind the leaders. He was going to scavenge a few positions to came up 18th. But during the restart after the 4th caution, Stewart Friesen started spinning and cut off the way of Derek who could not avoid him because he was stuck by Tyler Ankrum on the inside line. Mass was said. Despite a passage to the pits to repair, the right front being badly damaged, Derek will be classified 28th ... Really no luck ... Especially on this oval where he's so fast. Direction Darlington now where he finished 2nd last year. Provided that bad luck finally leaves him alone.

 

By: Nascarvd Nascarvédé

May 1, 2021 “Wise Power 200”
(Stages 30/60/134 laps = 201 miles) 

 

Kansas Speedway, Derek loves it and this is confirmed by his excellent results on this 1.5 mile oval. In fact, last year in July as a rookie when he was discovering the track, he obtained an excellent 5th position. And the next day he finished 7th in this doubleheader. 

 

When the NCWTS returned to Kansas during the playoffs, he obtained his 3rd consecutive top10 on this track with a 9th position. In addition, he also scored points in 4 of the 6 stages. Which makes Kansas the best track statistically where Derek has participated in more than one race. 

 

Taking Kafka to Kansas😎

Ran well here last season and should be good again tomorrow night. Hoping to give @KafkaGranite a strong run!@kansasspeedway | @BMR_NASCAR | @ToyotaRacing pic.twitter.com/G3mU5bRBQX

— Derek Kraus (@derek9kraus) April 30, 2021

Bodes well for this Saturday, especially as he will start the race from 14th position. It will also be the 2nd race with its new crew chief Mark Hillman. At Richmond without that left-rear puncture, he would have gotten at least a top10. His race was excellent despite a distant starting position. 

 

This Saturday will also be the occasion to see a new main sponsor on the #19 Toyota Tundra of McAnally-Hilgemann Racing with Kafka Granite. This sponsor is not unknown to Derek as he has already been an associate sponsor this year in Bristol and Richmond. 

 

 Kakfa Granite LLC is a leading producer of Specialty Aggregate and Landscape Stone materials since 1979. It is therefore a mining company based in Mosinee, Wisconsin. No wonder it pairs with another form of stone, the diamond that is Derek!😃 

 

Let's hope that bad luck finally leaves Derek alone this year. You really have to get a good result. It would be welcome to boost confidence. GO Derek GO !! 

 

Entry list, starting lineup and much more here: www.racing-reference.info/race/2021-07/C 

 

Race live this Saturday on FS1 at 7:30 p.m. ET