• Fans Meet NASCAR Legends McGriff and Hornaday
TUCSON, Ariz. (May 5, 2018) – Bill McAnally Racing drivers finished fourth in both Port of Tucson twin 100s that comprised a NASCAR K&N Pro Series West doubleheader at Tucson Speedway on Saturday night.
Derek Kraus drove BMR’s No. 16 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota Camry to a fourth-place finish in the first 100-lap race, while Cole Rouse came home fourth in the second race in the No. 99 NAPA Filters Toyota Camry.
Kraus – who started from the pole in both races – battled back to finish 11th in the second race, after losing a lap when he was penalized by NASCAR for jumping the start.
For Rouse, his fourth-place finish in the second race followed a seventh-place finish in the first.
Their BMR teammate, Hailie Deegan, had a solid night, meanwhile – finishing eighth in both races in the No. 19 Mobil 1/NAPA Power Premium Plus Toyota Camry.
“We started sixth and made our way up to fourth,” said the 16-year-old rookie, who was making just her second and third series starts on Saturday. “We had a good run. The car was good for about 20 or 30 laps, then the tires got hot.
“It’s a learning experience,” she said. “I haven’t been doing this very long. We just need to get laps right now.”
In addition to the twin 100-lap races, fans were treated to a special bonus with the opportunity to meet NASCAR legends Hershel McGriff and Ron Hornaday Jr.
McGriff returned to the series to compete in the event at the age of 90. He finished 18th in the first race in the No. 04 South Point Hotel & Casino Toyota Camry and did not compete in the second race.
Hornaday, a member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame and a four-time champion in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, returned to Tucson to serve as the grand marshal of the event.
Both races of Saturday’s doubleheader were won by first-time winner Kody Vanderwal.
Kraus, last year’s series Rookie of the Year, is five points out of the lead in third in the championship standings – with three races complete of a 15-event schedule. The 16-year-old from Stratford, Wisconsin has two top-five finishes in his three starts, including his win in the season opener.
Rouse – a 20-year-old from Fort Smith, Arkansas – is fourth in the standings, eight points out of the lead. He has two top-five and three top-10 finishes.
Deegan – a NASCAR Next driver from Temecula, California – is 18 points out of the lead, seventh in the standings. She has top-10 finishes in all three of her series starts.
The doubleheader events from Tucson will be televised on NBCSN, with the first race slated to air on May 9 at 3 p.m. PT and the second on May 10 at 3 p.m.
The next event on the K&N Pro Series West schedule will be at Orange Show Speedway in San Bernardino, California on May 19.