For Hub City Times

MONROE, WA– Stratford’s Derek Kraus dominated more than half the race, winning the pole and leading the first 115 laps, Aug. 11 at Evergreen Speedway in the NAPA AUTO PARTS 175, before landing in ninth place in his No. 16 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota Camry.

Kraus’ first challenge would come from Mother Nature. The start of the race was delayed as the track was dried, and just past the midway point action was halted for nearly an hour for a red flag due to weather.

After the competition resumed, Kraus charged back out front in his NAPA Toyota and began building another commanding lead. His hopes of a third win this season went away as he headed to the pits with a fuel issue on Lap 116. He returned to competition three laps down and rebounded for a top-10 finish.

Kraus is fourth in K&N West championship standings. Kraus – a 16-year-old NASCAR Next driver – has two wins, four poles, five top fives, and seven top 10s this season.

The NAPA AUTO PARTS 175, which was won by Derek Thorn, was the ninth event of a 14-race series schedule. It’s slated to be televised on NBCSN on Aug. 15.

Next up on the series schedule will be the Monaco Cocktails Gateway Classic presented by the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame NASCAR K&N Pro Series East-West combination race at Gateway Motorsports Park in Madison, IL, on Aug. 24.