BMR Strategy Comes Up Short At Memphis
• NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Event
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (June 2, 2018) – Strategy to get into contention to win a NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race at Memphis International Raceway came up short for Bill McAnally Racing on Saturday.
It left Hailie Deegan to come away with a 13th-place finish, and Derek Kraus to finish 14th.
Their teammate, Cole Rouse, encountered mechanical trouble and had to pit just before the midway point of the race. He returned to competition eight laps down and finished 18th.
The teams of Kraus and Deegan had opted to pit following the first 50-lap segment of the race and then stay on track after the second segment. It initially appeared to pay off, with Deegan taking the lead in the No. 19 Mobil 1/NAPA Power Premium Plus Toyota Camry on Lap 101, and Kraus moving into second in the No. 16 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota Camry. But the pair could not fend off their competition, who had fresher tires in the final segment of the 150-lap event.
Prior to encountering trouble, Rouse had battled his way up to sixth in the No. 99 NAPA Filters Toyota Camry.
In qualifying earlier in the day, Kraus was eighth quickest, with Rouse 10th, and Deegan 13th.
The trio of BMR drivers are running the full 14-race schedule in the West division of the NASCAR K&N Pro Series this year – while also racing select events in the East division.
Kraus and Deegan are both 16-year-old NASCAR Next drivers. Kraus of Stratford, Wisconsin won the rookie title in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West last year. Deegan of Temecula, California is a rookie in the series. Rouse is a 20-year-old from Fort Smith, Arkansas who is in his second season of series competition.
Saturday’s race featured a NAPA Hospitality event for a turnout of guests from NAPA’s Memphis Distribution Center, as well as BBB Industries and Gates. They were treated to a meet-and-greet with BMR drivers, a VIP pit tour, and a chance to attend the drivers meeting.
The Memphis race, which was won by Ruben Garcia Jr., will be televised on NBCSN on June 6 at 6 p.m. ET.
BMR’s three drivers will return to action in NASCAR K&N Pro Series West competition in the NAPA/Toyota 175 at Colorado National Speedway on Saturday, June 9