The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East wrapped up the 2018 season over the weekend at Dover (Del.) International Speedway. Despite a challenging race, Tyler Ankrum and the No. 17 Modern Meat Co. team were awarded their Championship trophy after an 11th-place finish. Derek Kraus came away as the top finishing DGR-Crosley car with a third-place finish, while Todd Gilliland was involved in a race-ending crash and was scored 14th at the conclusion of the Crosley 125.
Derek Kraus, No. 1 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota Camry
Practice: 10th
Qualifying: 5th
Race Result: 3rd
Derek Kraus and the No. 1 NAPA Auto Parts team had a strong showing in the Crosley 125. In Kraus’ first race at the Monster Mile, he earned a third-place finish and was the highest finishing DGR-Crosley car.
Kraus hit the track for the first time on Friday morning where he put down 36 laps during the lone practice session. He was scored 10th quick following practice. When qualifying rolled around, Kraus laid down a 23.068-second lap, securing a fifth-place starting position in the Crosley 125.
A rain storm moved into the area before the race started on Friday, forcing NASCAR officials to postpone the event until Saturday. When the race went green on Saturday morning, Kraus and the No. 1 Toyota Camry maintained the fifth position on the initial start and stayed there until the scheduled caution on lap 40. During the five-minute break, the No. 1 team made adjustments to help tighten up Kraus’ Toyota Camry. By the second five-minute break, Kraus was in conservation mode and fell back to 10th. His crew chief made the call to keep him out under the scheduled caution. Kraus led the field back to green on the restart, before falling back to third-place. He maintained that position for the remainder of the Crosley 125, securing a third-place finish in his first start at the Monster Mile.
Kraus on Dover: “It was a really good weekend with the DGR-Crosley guys. They brought me a great car and we came away with a third place finish after pit strategy played into our favor. Dover is a really fun track, I had a blast out there.”
Tyler Ankrum, No. 17 Modern Meat Co. Toyota Camry
Practice: 2nd
Qualifying: 3rd
Race Result: 11th
Championship Standings: 1st
Tyler Ankrum had a disappointing finish in the Crosley 125 after a pit stop mishap relegated him to an 11th-place finish, but that didn’t hamper the Championship celebration. In his Rookie season, Ankrum was named the 2018 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Champion. Even though Ankrum secured the title in the previous race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, the No. 17 team was finally able to celebrate the honor after the race at Dover.
Like his teammate, this weekend marked Ankrum’s first time racing at the Monster Mile of Dover International Speedway. He took to the track on Friday morning for practice where he was scored second quick after his mock-run. When qualifying rolled around on Friday afternoon, Ankrum was the fasted DGR-Crosley car on track and earned a third-place starting position with a lap time of 23.039-seconds.
When it was race time on Saturday morning, Ankrum grabbed the lead on the initial start. He maintained the lead until lap 11 when Gilliland took over the top spot on a restart. While fighting a loose race car, Ankrum slid up the track a few laps later causing him to lose another position. He maintained the third spot until the scheduled five-minute pit stop break. Under the break, the No. 17 team made adjustments on Ankrum’s Toyota Camry after he reported that his car was way too loose on restarts and he couldn’t stay in the throttle. On lap 80, Ankrum was scored fifth when he brought his car down pit road for four tires and fuel under the second scheduled caution. A mishap during the pit stop forced Ankrum to bring his car back down pit road three more times to diagnose and fix the tire issue. With 13 lap remaining he was able to get back on track, but couldn’t gain any track position at that point. He was scored 11th at the conclusion of the Crosley 125.
Ankrum on winning the Championship: “This season has been mostly highs. There’s been a few lows, but overall this 2018 season has been fantastic. I can’t thank all the guys at DGR-Crosley and the people who have got me to this point enough for all their hard work and staying by my side. I’m surrounded by fantastic people and they are a huge part of this. I still don’t know how to put words to it, but it’s really cool. I’ve never had a trophy this big before, I can’t wait to get it home and put it in my room. Happy is the word I guess I could use to describe it. I’m super happy. We knew we clinched it in New Hampshire, but to be able to celebrate it with my guys was awesome.”
Todd Gilliland, No. 54 Fred’s Toyota Camry
Practice: 13th
Qualifying: 4th
Race Result: 14th
After showing impressive speed and leading for 40 laps, Todd Gilliland was scored 14th at the conclusion of the Crosley 125 after being involved in a race-ending accident.
Gilliland and the No. 54 Fred’s Toyota Camry were scored 13th quick at the conclusion of practice on Friday morning. During qualifying, he laid down a 23.054-second lap around the one-mile track earning a 4th place starting position.
When the race went green on Saturday morning, Gilliland quickly grabbed the second position on the initial start. He remained there until lap 11 when he took the top spot away from Ankrum on a restart. Gilliland was the leader at the time of the first scheduled caution on lap 40. Under caution, he brought his Toyota Camry down for tires, fuel and an adjustment to help him on the center of the turns. When the Crosley 125 went back to green flag racing, Gilliland was battling the No. 6 car for the lead when he got loose and crashed hard into the front stretch wall. He led for 40 laps before his day ended early, and was scored 14th at the end of the 125 lap race.
Gilliland on Dover: “I’m just really disappointed that we crashed out and weren’t able to contend for the win. The DGR-Crosley guys brought me a really fast Fred’s Toyota Camry. I think we had the car to beat, but I just made a mistake. Got loose battling for the lead off four and overcorrected. I hate it for all the guys that work so hard on these things. It’s been really fun jumping in and racing a few races with them this year.”
The Crosley 125 from Dover International Speedway will air on Thursday, October 11at 6 p.m., ET on NBCSN.
DGR Crosely PR
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