Derek Kraus had a top-five finish slip away due to a broken right front wheel late in the Toyota 200 presented by CK Power at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway on Friday night.
Kraus had the McAnally-Hilgemann Racing No. 19 Gates Hydraulics/ NAPA Belts & Hoses Toyota Tundra in fifth when he had to pit with 15 laps to go.
He lost three laps due to the problem and ended up finishing 20th – in a race that went into overtime. It was a heartbreaking end to a great performance by Kraus and the MHR team that appeared would net them a fifth-place finish.
Kraus had started the race in 17th and quickly charged to 11th in the early laps. He finished 10th at the end of Stage 1 on Lap 55 and was up to seventh at the end of Stage 2 on Lap 110. He moved into the top five shortly after the restart. Trouble struck on Lap 145, however, as he slowed and headed to the pits to have his right front tire and wheel replaced.
Despite the problem, Kraus garnered enough points to move up a spot to 12th in the series standings.
The MHR team was part of a special pre-race celebration at McKay Auto Group’s NAPA AUTO PARTS store in Fairview Heights on Thursday. Kraus and team co-owner Bill McAnally were there, with the No. 19 Gates Hydraulics/ NAPA Belts & Hoses Toyota Tundra. A special group of guests from McKay Auto Group, NGK and BBB Industries received a VIP experience at the track on Friday.
Derek Kraus – Thoughts about the race
Talk about your night.
“We had a great Tundra and had put ourselves in position for a top-five finish. I don’t know what happened. It’s disappointing to have such a fast truck and not have the results to show for it.”
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Event:
Race: Toyota 200 presented by CK Power (160 Laps) (Race 16 of 22) Aug. 20, 2021
Location: World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway, Madison, Ill. (1.25-mile oval)
Format: Three Stages; Lap 55 / Lap 110 / Lap 160
Derek Kraus
No. 19 Gates Hydraulics/ NAPA Belts & Hoses Toyota Tundra
Age: 19
Hometown: Stratford, Wis.
Started: 17th
Stage 1: 10th
Stage 2: 7th
Finished: 20th (Running, completed 160 of 163 laps)
Race Winner: Sheldon Creed
2021 Series Stats:
Races: 16 starts, 2 poles, 1 top fives, 4 top 10s
Laps completed: 1,799/2,038
Laps led: 58
Series standings: 12th
Next Race:
In It To Win It 200, Sept. 5, 2021, Darlington Raceway, Darlington, S.C. (1.366-mile oval).
McAnally-Hilgemann Racing PR
