Pit Box: Derek Kraus Leads K&N East Series Return To New Hampshire Motor Speedway

(Press Release from NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications)

The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East returns this weekend in the Granite State, and the championship race is set to heat up.

This weekend’s United Site Services 70 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway will mark the first of three races in three straight weekends and the first of four in the next five.

UNITED SITE SERVICES 70 AT NEW HAMPSHIRE MOTOR SPEEDWAY

WHAT TO WATCH FOR:

Not only is he establishing himself as the championship favorite on the West coast, but Derek Kraus is also doing so on the East coast for Bill McAnally Racing.

The two-time K&N East winner and three-time K&N Pro West winner thus far in 2019 leads the standings entering NHMS by two points over rookie Sam Mayer. Team owner Bill McAnally has reiterated that the No. 16 camp has not yet declared they’re running for the championship in the series with 100 percent certainty yet, but are taking it race by race.

The 17-year-old Stratford, Wisconsin, native has earned the pole in both of his trips to The Magic Mile, coming home fifth and second last season.

Joining Kraus with BMR are his usual teammates out West: Hailie Deegan and Brittney Zamora. Deegan’s prior start at NHMS resulted in a 16th-place finish, while Zamora, a Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender out West, will be making her first start at the track. As will Lawless Alan, who made his series debut a couple weeks ago at Sonoma Raceway for BMR, finishing 24th after a late race incident with Deegan.

Close behind Kraus in the standings is Mayer, the 16-year-old for GMS Racing. The leading Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidate in the East, he’s scored a win and four top five finishes. He’s competed in ARCA Menard’s Series events at Madison, Gateway and Elko in the time since the last race in Memphis and has one top 10 finish at NHMS in two starts.

Returning to the site of his first K&N Pro East win last fall, Brandon McReynolds is poised to repeat his success. He’s finished third at both New Smyrna and Bristol for Visconti Motorsports in his only two starts this year.

K&N Pro East powerhouse DGR-Crosley won this race last season with eventual champion Tyler Ankrum at the wheel. While Ankrum has moved up to the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series, where he earned his first victory this past weekend at Kentucky Speedway, DGR-Crosley will have a trio of contenders making their first career starts at NHMS.

RACE FACTS

RACE CENTER | ENTRY LIST

CREW CHIEF HANDOUT: The starting field for the United Site Services 70 is limited to 28 starters, including provisional positions. The first 24 drivers will secure starting positions based on qualifying for the United Site Services 70. The remaining four spots will be awarded through the provisional process.

The number of groups for qualifying will be determined by NASCAR. Each group qualifying session will be five (5) minutes in duration and the fastest single lap speed of each vehicle will determine starting positions 1st through 24th. Adjustments or repairs may not be made on a vehicle after the vehicle enters the track to begin the qualifying session. Vehicles may not return to the track or make any further qualifying laps unless directed to do so by a NASCAR Official or in the event of a caution. If a vehicle returns to pit road, the vehicle’s qualifying attempt is complete. Once a vehicle’s qualifying attempt is complete the vehicle must proceed directly to the designated impound area once it enters pit road. In the event of a caution, all vehicles must exit the track. Vehicles that elect to continue must proceed directly to the re-entry area of pit road and stop to the outside of pit road. No adjustments or repairs may be made to any vehicle on pit road or in the re-entry area during a caution except the removal of tape on the grille opening only, once removed the reinstallation of tape will not be permitted.

Vehicles will be impounded after qualifying. Vehicles must qualify on race set up. Only minor adjustments will be permitted following qualifying (i.e. air pressure checked, tape removed). NASCAR Officials must oversee and authorize any and all work being done during this time period.

The United Site Services 70 will be 70 laps (70.04 miles) and is to be run in one (1) segment with no scheduled breaks.

The maximum tire allotment available for this event is as follows: Four (4) tires for practice, four (4) tires for qualifying and to begin the race for a total of eight (8) tires. A team representative must designate qualifying and race tires to NASCAR Officials at the designated time.