37 Facts About Derek Kraus

Derek Kenneth Kraus was born on September 1,2001 and is an American professional stock car racing driver.

Derek Kraus last competed part-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No 16 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Kaulig Racing.

Derek Kraus has previously competed in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series East and West.

Derek Kraus won the 2019 West Series championship and is a former NASCAR Next member.

Derek Kraus won the GSR Kartway championship in 2012 and 2013.

Derek Kraus later moved up to Midwest trucks and super late models.

Derek Kraus began the 2015 season by competing in seven Super Late Model races in Florida's New Smyrna Speedway.

Derek Kraus began racing in the American Ethanol SuperTruck Series in 2015; he became the youngest driver to win a feature at Rockford Speedway at age 13.

Additionally, Derek Kraus won his first SLM race a few days before he turned fourteen.

Derek Kraus competed full-time in the Midwest Truck Series, he won that series' 2015 championship.

The announcement came after Derek Kraus tested for the team at Kern County Raceway Park earlier that year.

Derek Kraus set career-best finishes in the West Series of second at Kern County, Spokane County Raceway, and Colorado National Speedway.

Derek Kraus led for an extended period at Meridian Speedway in Idaho and won the season's final race at Kern County for his first win, beating teammate and series champion Todd Gilliland.

Derek Kraus began 2018 by competing in the Winter Showdown late model race at Kern County.

Derek Kraus later passed the fellow BMR driver while both were running in lapped traffic, taking the win.

Derek Kraus then won the pole in both races at the series' doubleheader at Tucson Speedway, finishing fourth and eleventh in the first and second races respectively.

In May 2018, Derek Kraus was named to the 2018 NASCAR Next class.

At Meridian Speedway, Derek Kraus led the first 189 laps before slowing to avoid a spinning lapped car in a late caution, leading to a third-place finish.

Derek Kraus finished the season-long points tally in fourth, behind Thorn, Ryan Partridge and Rouse.

Derek Kraus raced against Brandon McReynolds for the lead on the final restart, finishing in second.

On November 6,2018, Derek Kraus announced that he would make his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut at ISM Raceway that Friday, driving the No 19 Toyota Tundra for Bill McAnally Racing.

Derek Kraus returned to BMR for a third West season in 2019.

Derek Kraus later won both races at Tucson Speedway's doubleheader event, leading all 100 laps in the first race.

At Colorado, Derek Kraus ran up front until a broken sway bar hindered his car's performance, dropping him down to the back of the top-five.

At Douglas County Speedway, Derek Kraus won the pole and led every lap en route to the win.

Derek Kraus won again by leading every lap from the pole at Kern County, his fourth straight victory at the track.

At Las Vegas, Derek Kraus's truck had transmission problems, relegating him to a 27th-place finish.

Derek Kraus began the season at Daytona International Speedway with a career-best fourth-place finish.

At Darlington, Derek Kraus nearly scored his first career win, finishing second to Ben Rhodes in an overtime finish.

Derek Kraus returned to the team in 2021, but had a new crew chief in Matt Noyce, who moved over from ThorSport Racing No 99 truck of Ben Rhodes.

On December 6,2022, McAnally-Hilgemann Racing announced that Derek Kraus would be replaced in the No 19 truck by former ThorSport Racing driver Christian Eckes for 2023.

On February 1,2023, it was announced that Derek Kraus would drive the Young's Motorsports No 20 truck in the season-opener at Daytona with the possibility of running more races for the team if sponsorship is found.

Derek Kraus was chosen to fill in for Allmendinger as he is the team's simulator driver.

Derek Kraus did some simulator driving for Legacy Motor Club in 2023.

On February 22,2024, it was announced that Derek Kraus will drive the No 16 for Kaulig Racing part-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, with his first start being at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Derek Kraus attended Stratford High School and was on the school's wrestling team and played football his freshman year.

Derek Kraus graduated high school in 2020 and missed his graduation ceremony, which was rescheduled to July due to COVID-19, to race in the truck race at Kansas on the same day.