Kraus Set For First Full Season In Truck Series
• 18-Year-Old Kicks Off Rookie Campaign At Daytona
ROSEVILLE, Calif. (Feb. 11, 2020) – Derek Kraus is set to take a major step in the progression of his racing career, beginning his first full season of competition in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series with the NextEra Energy 250 at Daytona International Speedway on Friday.
The 18-year-old from Stratford, Wisconsin will be behind the wheel of the No. 19 Shockwave Toyota Tundra for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing, competing for his first time at the 2.5-mile superspeedway.
Although Kraus is with a new team this season, he will be surrounded with many familiar faces – who had a hand in helping him win the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West championship last year. McAnally-Hilgemann Racing, formed to field the truck entry on a full-time basis this season, is an offshoot of Bill McAnally Racing – where Kraus called home the past three years.
In addition to team owner Bill McAnally, key members of the BMR team that worked with Kraus are involved with the truck team. Heading that effort is Kevin Bellicourt, the general manager at BMR; who also serves as the crew chief on the truck.
Derek Kraus – Thoughts About Daytona
Talking about his first race at Daytona International Speedway
“I’m really looking forward to Daytona. It has so much history behind it and the track is so unique. There is so much involved with the drafting and everything that goes on during a race there. We are looking for a good finish, to start the year off on a high note.”
Preparing for the start of his first full season in the truck series
“To prepare for the season, I got some film to watch from the races last year and I talked to Kevin about some of his strategies going into this race.”
NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series Event:
Race: NextEra Energy 250 (100 Laps) (Race 1 of 23) Feb. 14, 2020
Location: Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Fla. (2.5-mile oval)
Television: FS1 on Feb. 14 at 7:30 p.m. ET
Derek Kraus
No. 19 Shockwave Toyota Tundra
Age: 18
Hometown: Stratford, Wisc.
Career series starts: 5
Most recent series finish: 31st – Phoenix (Nov. 8, 2019)
Best career series finish: 8th – two times (Phoenix, Nov. 9, 2018 & Dover, May 3, 2019)