Story By: KRISTEN LESTOCK / NHMS – LOUDON, NH – A late caution and green/white/checkered finish gave back to Brandon McReynolds what Derek Kraus almost took away during the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Apple Barrel 125 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
“This is a special place for me, but to come and execute means a lot,” said McReynolds. “To have success at a track where my dad has had success is a special feeling.”
McReynolds slipped past Kraus in the closing lap to win a race he largely dominated in the early circuits. Along with the No. 82 of Spencer Davis, this trio of drivers started and finished the K&N race in the top three.
“It was pretty wild,” said McReynolds. “Derek was hauling, but I just hung on. I didn’t have any front tires left, so when he got to me I felt like my best bet was just to not let him go, but just hope we got the caution and we did. Luckily Riley got a better restart than any of us, which put us three wide. I’m really impressed with Derek and these guys. They’re a lot of fun to race with.”
Rounding out the top five were Riley Herbst in the No. 98 Terrible Herbst Toyota and Dillon Basset in the No. 44 Universal Technical Institute Chevrolet.
After a wire-to-wire victory in New Hampshire in July, Tyler Ankrum, driver of the No. 17 Modern Meat Company Toyota, clinched the series championship with his 13th place finish today. Ankrum, who was strong all season long, with four wins and nine top five finishes in 13 races, just had to stay out of trouble to clinch the title in New Hampshire.
“Exciting is how I like to do it, but I’ve had a blast all year,” said Ankrum. “To wrap up a championship for a kid who was going to run a part-time schedule, we got it, that’s all I can say. I knew all year we were really fast and the ones to beat, but it just hasn’t sunk in yet, but I’m super excited.”
