Strong Run For MHR Drivers In Bristol Dirt Race
• Pinty’s Truck Race On Dirt At BMS
BRISTOL, Tenn. (April 16, 2022) – McAnally-Hilgemann Racing drivers Derek Kraus and Colby Howard both turned in strong runs in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on the dirt track at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday night.
Howard, competing in his first race on dirt, charged to a 12th-place finish in the No. 91 Gates Hydraulics Chevrolet Silverado RST. It marked a career-best series finish for the 20-year-old from Simpsonville, South Carolina in just his 11th series start.
Kraus was headed for a top-10 finish in the No. 19 NAPA AutoCare Chevrolet Silverado RST, meanwhile; but got caught up in an incident about 10 laps from the checkered flag and ended up finishing 29th.
After rolling off 12th on the grid, Howard dashed into the top 10 by Lap 10. He lost track position, however, after getting shuffled back in heavy traffic. Beginning the final stage of the race in 20th, he mounted a charge to the front and steadily picked up positions through the end of the race. His strong finish boosted him two positions to 23rd in the championship standings.
Kraus started 15th and did not gain ground early in the race. After finishing the first stage of the race in 15th, he grabbed a 10th-place finish at the end of the second stage and picked up a bonus point. He restarted in 17th, after making a pit stop during the stage break. Kraus wasted no time in charging ahead and was up to ninth during a caution with 25 laps remaining. His effort was sidelined, however, with 10 laps to go when two trucks ahead of him spun around and he could not avoid them.
Quote – Derek Kraus
“Our Chevy was really good tonight and was running great as the laps wound down. It’s disappointing to not have the finish to show for it. It was just a matter of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Quote – Colby Howard
“I’m extremely happy with our run tonight. We were strong in the first run and fell off a little bit, but we made some great adjustments all night and kept getting more and more comfortable. I was nervous coming into the weekend, but felt I adapted pretty quick.”
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Event:
Race: Pinty’s Truck Race on Dirt (150 Laps) (Race 6 of 23) April 16, 2022
Location: Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, Tenn. (1/2-mile dirt oval)
Format: Three Stages; Lap 40 / Lap 90 / Lap 150
Derek Kraus
No. 19 NAPA AutoCare Chevrolet Silverado RST
Age: 20
Hometown: Stratford, Wis.
Qualified: 15th
Stage 1: 15th
Stage 2: 10th
Finished: 29th (Running, completed 149 of 150 laps)
Career series stats:
56 starts, 2 poles, 4 top fives, 20 top 10s
2022 series stats:
Races: 6 starts, 1 top 10
Laps completed: 765/771
Laps led: 1
Series standings: 12th
Colby Howard
No. 91 Gates Hydraulics Chevrolet Silverado RST
Age: 20
Hometown: Simpsonville, S.C.
Qualified: 12th
Stage 1: 18th
Stage 2: 20th
Finished: 12th (Running, completed 150 of 150 laps)
Career series stats:
11 starts
2022 series stats:
Races: 6 starts
Laps completed: 658/771
Laps led: 9
Series standings: 23rd
Next Race:
Dead On Tools 200, May 6, 2022, Darlington Raceway, Darlington, S.C. (1.366-mile oval)