Derek Kraus heads to Virginia’s Martinsville Speedway on Saturday to compete in the first of four races he’s slated to run this year in the NASCAR Gander Outdoor Truck Series.
The 17-year-old NASCAR Next driver from Stratford, Wisconsin will be behind the wheel of Bill McAnally Racing’s No. 19 ENEOS Toyota Tundra.
ENEOS joined BMR at the beginning of the year as a primary sponsor on the team’s Tundra – along with NAPA AUTO PARTS, NAPA Filters, and Toyota/TRD.
“I look forward to competing in these events and getting more experience in the truck series this season,” Kraus said. “I appreciate the opportunity Bill McAnally is providing me and it’s great to have ENEOS come on board as a sponsor with BMR.”
Kraus made his truck series debut with a strong eighth-place finish at ISM Speedway near Phoenix last November.
The four truck races he’s running this season are on off weekends from the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West, where Kraus is in his third full season competing for BMR – driving the No. 16 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota Camry.
Kevin Bellicourt will serve as the crew chief on the truck.
BMR has had a strong start to the season in NASCAR K&N Pro Series competition, winning the K&N East season opener and K&N West opener. Kraus went to Victory Lane in the K&N East opener at New Smyrna Speedway last month, while Hailie Deegan won the K&N West opener with a thrilling last-lap pass at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Dirt Track. Kraus also ran strong at Las Vegas, leading a race-high 60 laps and coming home sixth.
Along with winning the K&N West rookie title in 2017, Kraus has scored five wins and six poles in 29 K&N West starts.
Saturday’s 250-lap truck race from the historic half-mile track in Martinsville is to be televised live on FOX Sports 1 and will also be carried live on MRN radio.
In advance of the race, the BMR team is slated to participate in a special appearance at a NAPA Store in Reidsville, North Carolina on Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Kraus will be on hand to greet fans and sign autographs.
A special VIP experience is planned by BMR at the track on Saturday for ENEOS guests and a group from NAPA Power Premium Plus. Activities will include a VIP suite and a special pit tour.
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