And down the stretch they come.
With only two races remaining in the 2019 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West season, Derek Kraus remains in the driver’s seat to hoist his first career championship. Heading to his best track on the schedule, the No. 16 NAPA Auto Parts/Curb Records Toyota will be tough to beat. But as we’ve seen this season, a lot can happen in 150 laps.
NAPA/ENEOS 150 AT KERN COUNTY
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:
It’s Derek Kraus’ championship to lose. And it’s been that way for a a few months, now.
After taking the championship lead after the first Twin 100 at Tucson, the 18-year-old Stratford, Wisconsin, native now enters the penultimate race of the season up 40 points on Trevor Huddleston. To make matters worse for the competition, Kern is by far Kraus’ best track.
In four trips, Kraus has won three times and finished second, with his runner-up result coming in his first trip to the Bakersfield oval. Kraus has talked glowingly about getting back to KCRP to pad his already thick stat sheet and will all but clinch the 2019 title with a solid finish on Saturday night.
Not far behind him is All American winner Jagger Jones. This will be his first trip to KCRP in a K&N Pro Series car, won five races in 2018 in a late model, winning the championship that season. His Sunrise Ford teammate, Huddleston, hasn’t finished worse than sixth in his two trips to Kern, and has two wins this season.
RELATED: K&N Catch-Up: What We Learned At All American
Kraus’ Bill McAnally Racing teammates of Hailie Deegan and Brittney Zamora are looking to end their seasons on a high note, with Deegan coming off a runner-up finish at All American and Zamora coming off a sixth-place run (her best result in the last three races). Dylan Garner, who made his second career start in Roseville, will be back behind the wheel at the track he knows best once again.
Zach Telford will make his second career start this weekend as well. Coming off a solid evening, running second on the final lap at his home track of Meridian a few weeks ago, Telford will look to best his ninth-place result on Saturday night.
RACE FACTS
| RACE |
NAPA/ENEOS 150
|
|---|---|
| PLACE | Kern County Raceway Park |
| DATE | Saturday, October 26, 2019 |
| TIME | 7:25 p.m. PDT |
| TELEVISION | FansChoice.TV (live), 7:25 p.m. PDT; NBCSN — Thursday, October 31, 6 p.m. EDT |
| TRACK LAYOUT | 0.5-mile paved oval |
| 2018 WINNER | Derek Kraus |
| 2018 POLE | Hailie Deegan |
| EVENT SCHEDULE | Garage opens: 9:30 a.m. PDT; Practice: 12:30-1 p.m.; Final practice: 1:30-2 p.m.; Group qualifying: 5 p.m.; Driver autograph session: 5:45 p.m.; Driver introductions: 6:30 p.m.; NAPA/ENEOS 150: 7:25 p.m. (approx) |
| @KernRaceway, @NASCARHomeTrack | |
| HASHTAG | #KNWEST, #NAPAENEOS150 |
CREW CHIEF HANDOUT: The starting field for the NAPA/ENEOS 150 is limited to 24 starters, including provisional positions. The first 20 drivers will secure starting positions based on qualifying for the NAPA/ENEOS 150. 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 20th. 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 NAPA/ENEOS 150 will be 150 laps (75 miles) and is to be run in two (2) segments with one break at or around the conclusion of Lap 75.
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 and two (2) additional tires for use during the race for a total of ten (10) tires.
A team representative must designate qualifying and race tires to NASCAR Officials at the designated time. Teams will be allowed to bring one (1) set of tires from home to register for practice session(s). Tires must be proper code and registered with NASCAR Officials prior to the beginning of the practice sessions.
![visit Sunoco3c [converted] website - opens in the same window](https://www.arcaracing.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/36/2020/01/Sunoco3c-Converted-291x180.png "visit Sunoco3c [converted] website - opens in the same window")
