NKNPSW: Derek Kraus Winner of Bakersfield 175 at Kern County Raceway

The NASCAR K&N Pro Series West returned to action at Kern County Raceway for the Bakersfield 175. The 175-lap event, serving as the season opener for the West tour, featured action all throughout the 87.5-mile event. Kevin Harvick, a veteran racer in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, started the event on the pole.

Kevin Harvick led the first 132 laps of the event until a restart with 43 laps to go. That’s when eventual race winner Derek Kraus made contact with the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series veteran that forced both drivers up the track. Cole Rouse, after making it three wide for the lead prior to the incident, went to the lead as Harvick relegated back to around the ninth spot

Harvick, from Bakersfield himself, found himself running third at one point before being passed for the spot. The driver racing at his home track went on to finish fourth.

Derek Kraus passed Rouse for the lead with 17 laps to go and sailed to victory lane. Kraus, from the state of Wisconsin, scored his second career NASCAR K&N Pro Series West victory on Thursday at Kern County Raceway. He leaves the track with 10 career top five and 11 top 10 finishes through 15 starts.

Derek Thorn started 12th on the leaderboard and finished runner-up in the Bakersfield 175. Thorn, driving the No. 6 Sunrise Ford Ford, will leave the track with his 27th career top five and 32nd top 10 finish. The California native has one top five and three top 10 finishes at Kern Raceway.

Cole Rouse, leading 26 of the 175 circuits, rounded out the top three finishers. Rouse started second on the leaderboard and went on to capture his second consecutive third-place finish at the half-mile oval.

Ryan Partridge rounded out the top-five finishers.

Series standings:

POS

DRIVER

BEHIND

1

Derek Kraus

Leader

2

Derek Thorn

-5

3

Cole Rouse

-5

4

Kevin Harvick

-5

5

Ryan Partridge

-8

6

Trevor Huddleston

-9

7

Hailie Deegan

-10

8

Austin Herzog

-11

9

Rod Johnson Jr.

-12

10

Reid Lanpher

-13

The Bakersfield 175 will air Tuesday, March 20 at 11:00 p.m. ET. on NBCSN.

The next race for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West tour will be at Tucson Speedway for a twin event on May 5. The NASCAR Home Tracks site will offer live coverage of the event.

Brett Winningham
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