Kraus Takes Third in NASCAR K&N Pro Series East in New Hampshire to Maintain Championship Lead

Derek Kraus drove the ENEOS-sponsored Bill McAnally Racing #16 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota Camry to a third-place finish in the United Site Services 70 race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Saturday.

With his podium finish at the track known as the Magic Mile, the 17 year-old NASCAR Next driver from Stratford, WI was able to maintain a two-point lead in the championship standings of the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East.

Kraus took advantage of a scramble among the leaders on the opening lap to gain multiple spots after starting ninth. He was up to second by Lap 11 and took the lead after a Lap 25 restart. However, he was passed at the midway point of the race and slipped to third in a drag race to the checkered flag.

“We struggled in practice, so didn’t know what we were going to have,” Kraus said after the race. “It was a really good finish for the weekend with our NAPA Toyota. For us it was like a win, after our struggles. My BMR team worked hard to get this.”

Kraus continues to lead the championship standings, as the K&N East hits the midway mark of the season with six of a 12-race schedule completed. He has two wins, four top-five and six top-ten finishes from his six starts. In addition to the K&N East, he also leads the championship chase in the K&N West.

Kraus led the way among his BMR teammates – with series rookie Brittney Zamora finishing 12th in the #99 ENEOS / NAPA Filters Toyota Camry.

Zamora is running the full schedule in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West, while also racing in select events in the K&N East. The 20 year-old from Kennewick, WA is 11th in the K&N East standings from four starts.

NEXT RACE

The next event on the series schedule will be the Casey’s General Store 150 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East-West combination race at Iowa Speedway on July 26.

ON TV

The New Hampshire race, won by Chase Cabre, will be televised on NBCSN on July 29 at 6pm ET.