Kraus, teammate battle back for top-five finishes
For Hub City Times
ROSEVILLE, CA – Bill McAnally Racing drivers Hailie Deegan and Derek Kraus had fans on their feet at All American Speedway on Oct. 12, as they battled their way through the field to contend for the win in the closing laps of the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West NAPA AUTO PARTS / ENEOS 150.
Deegan came away with a second-place finish in her No. 19 Monster Energy/NAPA Power Premium Plus Toyota Camry, while Kraus finished fourth in his No. 16 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota Camry.
After starting side-by-side on the front row, the two 18-year-old NASCAR Next drivers encountered trouble in the first portion of the race and ended up charging back through the field to try to grab the win.
Deegan, who turned in the fastest lap in time trials to secure her third pole of the year and fifth of her career, was running second to Kraus on Lap 28 when she spun in Turn 4 after contact from the third-place car. Without a caution, she scrambled to stay on the lead lap and begin battling back.
Kraus, meanwhile, had to pit with a flat right rear tire after contact with a slower car on Lap 53. He lost a lap in the process and was not able to get back on the lead lap until a late-race caution.
Kraus, of Stratford, was able to maintain his 40-point lead in the championship standings, with two races remaining on the schedule. He has four wins, nine top-five, and 11 top-10 finishes in 12 series starts this season. In addition, he scored two wins early this year in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East.
The Roseville race, won by Jagger Jones, will be televised to a national audience on NBCSN on Oct. 17.
The next event on the K&N West schedule will be at Kern County Raceway Park near Bakersfield, CA, on Oct. 26.