Via NASCAR Media

Twice the risk. Twice the reward.

That’s what’s on the line Saturday, as the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West returns to action at Tucson Speedway. The venerable .375-mile Arizona oval will play host to the Port of Tucson 100s — a pair of 100-lap sprints with championship points on the line for both races. Last year, the twins were at Irwindale Speedway in southern California, and Todd Gilliland swept them as the middle of a four-race win streak that gave him the championship lead he would never relinquish.

Tucson offers the opportunity for one of this year’s title contenders to do the same.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

Derek Kraus got the jump on the competition in what is expected to be a tight, season-long battle for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West championship when he grabbed the season-opening victory at Kern County Raceway Park in California.

The 16-year-old from Stratford, Wisconsin, will be challenged to maintain that hold on the top spot with a pair of 100-lap races Saturday at Tucson. Kraus finished sixth in his only previous start at Tucson last year.

Ryan Partridge won the 2016 event at the track and was fourth in 2015, while teammate Bruncati Racing teammate Derek Thorn was second in this year’s opener at Kern and will be making his first K&N Pro West start at Tucson.

Kraus’ Bill McAnally Racing teammate, 19-year-old Cole Rouse, has a fourth-place finish (2016) at Tucson, and Will Rodgers is a late addition in the No. 4 for Jefferson Pitts Racing. Rodgers, 23, was fifth at Tucson in 2015.

RACING-REFERENCE: Previous K&N Pro Series West races at Tucson | K&N Pro Series West drivers’ career stats at Tucson

The twin 100-lap format allows for drivers to double up with a good day, but if misfortune should strike, it can be twice as painful in the points standings. With a tight pack of numerous drivers vying for the title, the points could swing considerably. Throw in the short distance, drivers will have to be up on the wheel at the drop of the initial green flag.

These are all ingredients for an exciting Saturday night.

RACE FACTS

RACE PORT OF TUCSON TWIN 100S
PLACE Tucson (Ariz.) Speedway
DATE Saturday, May 5
TIME 7 p.m. MT
TELEVISION NBCSN, Wednesday, May 9 – 6 p.m. ET (Race 1); NBCSN, Thursday, May 10 – 6 p.m. ET (Race 2)
TRACK LAYOUT .375-mile oval
2017 WINNER Chris Eggleston
2017 POLE Todd Gilliland
EVENT SCHEDULE Saturday — Garage opens: 10 a.m. MT; Practice: 12:45-1:30 p.m. and 1:45-2:30 p.m.; Group qualifying: 4:45 p.m.; Port of Tucson 100 (first race): 7 p.m. & 9:30 p.m.
TWITTER @TucsonSpeedway
HASHTAG #PortofTucsonTwin100s #KNWest

CREW CHIEF HANDOUT: The maximum starting field is 24 cars, for each race, including provisionals.

Qualifying groups will be determined by each vehicle’s overall fastest single lap from the official practice sessions.

The first 20 cars will secure starting positions based on the two-lap qualifying session for the PORT OF TUCSON TWIN 100 RACE 1. The remaining four spots will be awarded through the provisional process.

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.

Starting positions for the PORT OF TUCSON TWIN 100’S RACE 2 will be determined by each car’s best lap time during the running of the PORT OF TUCSON TWIN 100s RACE 1.

Each of the PORT OF TUCSON 100 events will be 100 laps (38 miles).

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 for a total of eight (8) tires.

The maximum tire allotment available for Race 2 is as follows: Four (4) tires to begin the race for a total of four (4) tires. Teams will be allowed to run the tires from Race 1