Success for ENEOS Drivers at NASCAR K&N Pro Series Double-Header in Tucson, AZ

Kraus wins both rounds, Zamora takes First Pole and Podium Finish

Derek Kraus overcame Mother Nature to sweep both races of a double-header at Tucson Raceway on Saturday and take the lead in the championship standings of the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West.

The 17 year-old NASCAR Next driver from Stratford, WI dominated the first of the two 100-lap races – leading the event wire-to-wire in the Bill McAnally Racing #16 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota Camry. He took command of the second race around the midway point and pulled away for the victory.

“We had a really good NAPA Toyota going into the first race,” said Kraus, who started second on the grid. “There was a little bit of unknown with the rain but overall, it was a good first race.

“The second race we had to work a harder,” he said. “We didn’t lead until the second half of the race and it was definitely more challenging than the first.”

While other drivers were charging hard, Kraus chose to save his tires in the second race. “The other drivers wore them out and in the end we took advantage of that,” he said of his competition.

The start of the first race was delayed by a thundershower that swept through the area. Rain also fell after the race, pushing back the start of the second race.

Kraus has won two of four races this season in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West and two of four races in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. He leads the points in both divisions.

BRITTNEY ZAMORA

Kraus shared the spotlight in the second race with his rookie BMR teammate, Brittney Zamora. In an event weekend, she won her first career series pole award and came away with a third-place finish in the #99 ENEOS / NAPA Filters Toyota Camry in just her fourth career start in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West.

“This is a good start to our season,” said Zamora, the 20 year-old from Kennewick, WA. “Thanks to BMR, ENEOS Motor Oil, NAPA, Toyota, the Davis Group and my entire crew – they worked so hard all weekend.”

Zamora, who topped the speed chart in final practice earlier in the day, started third in the first race and finished fifth. She led from the pole in the early laps of the second race, and after slipping back to third, charged back into the lead. She then battled throughout the race to come home third.

Zamora is second in the rookie points and fifth in the overall championship standings, 29 points off the lead. She has two top-five and three top-10 finishes.

The two wins by Kraus give BMR 95 overall victories in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series.

NAPA and ENEOS were well represented at Tucson, with plenty activities and sponsor activation centered on the big double-header event.

The two Tucson races will be televised on NBCSN at 1pm and 4pm on May 22.

The next event on the K&N West schedule will be at Colorado National Speedway north of Denver on June 8.