Trotter Finishes Top 10 at ARCA Iowa While Kraus Takes 11th at Texas
The 2020 season continues to see strong driver development for Bill McAnally Racing’s young drivers. Gracie Trotter added her first career top-ten finish in the ARCA Menards Series to her list of accomplishments, driving the #99 ENEOS Toyota Camry to ninth place at Iowa Speedway on July 18, 2020 for the Sioux Chief Showdown Shore Lunch 150.
Meanwhile, at Texas Motor Speedway, Derek Kraus turned in another solid performance in the ENEOS-sponsored #19 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing NAPA AutoCare Toyota Tundra, finishing 11th at the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoor Truck Series Vankor 350.
Charging from 21st on the grid, Trotter was able to make a positive turnaround after her team struggled to diagnose mechanical problems during practice earlier in the day. “The team worked hard to get the Camry fixed as best they could,” she said. “I struggled at the beginning of the race, but once I found what I liked, the Toyota responded accordingly. Iowa is a fun track and I’m proud of my ninth place finish.”
Her ENEOS-sponsored teammates placed right behind her, with Giovanni Scelzi finishing 11th in the #16 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota Camry and Jesse Love finished 12th in the #.19 NAPA Power Premium Plus Toyota Camry.
For Kraus in the #19 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing NAPA AutoCare Toyota Tundra, he started 17th on the grid and quickly made a move for the front. He climbed to 14th by Lap 5, and was 11th on Lap 25, a position he was able to maintain through the end of the first stage on Lap 40. He restarted in 14th and pushed to eighth. By opting not to pit during a caution before the end of the second stage, Kraus fell down the field after making his pit stop, but pushed back to 11th and fought the remaining laps trying to break into the top 10 again. He almost did it but was edged out in the final laps. “It was an okay night,” he said. “We struggled to get track position.”
NEXT RACE
Trotter heads to the ARCA Menards Series West NAPA AUTO PARTS 150 on August 7, 2020 at Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, Washington.
Kraus heads to the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoor Truck series double-header on July 24/25, 2020 at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas.