Young drivers Christian Eckes and Jake Garcia announce full-time drives at McAnally-Hinglemann Racing for 2023.
McAnally-Hinglemann Racing confirmed their lineup for next season on December 6th. The announcement means Derek Kraus, who has driven for the team since 2020, will be departing from the team.
We're still amped up from yesterday!#NASCAR pic.twitter.com/hkOG3WXuH3
— Bill McAnally Racing (@BMR_NASCAR) December 7, 2022
McAnally-Hinglemann Racing fields the #19 and #35 Silverado in the Truck Series. Young but experienced driver Christian Eckes will join the #19 truck team with sponsorship from NAPA Auto Parts. Jake Garcia will be joining as well, qualifying for 2023 Rookie of the Year honors. Sponsorship will come from Adaptive One Calipers, a NAPA-affiliated brand.
With Eckes and Garcia joining the team, that means Derek Kraus is currently looking for a new ride for 2023. Since joining the team in 2020, Kraus has had lackluster results. In three seasons, the Wisconsin native has scored four Top 5s, 26 Top 10s, and only 134 laps led without a win.
The Drivers
Replacing Kraus, Eckes scored a win in 2021 at Las Vegas. In 2020 and 2022 he made the Playoffs with Kyle Busch Motorsports and Thorsport, respectively. He has amassed a total of 20 Top 5s and 38 Top 10s. Eckes has led a total of 420 laps in his five years in the Truck Series.
Jake Garcia, a young rookie, got his start racing midget sprints and late models. He won the track championship at Five Flags Speedway in 2019 and Rookie of the Year in the Southern Super Series in 2020. Garcia made five starts for McAnally-Hinglemann in 2022, running the #35 Silverado at Gateway, Indianapolis Raceway Park, Richmond, Bristol, and Phoenix. He scored his best finish of 16th at Phoenix to close the season.
Since Garcia is only 17, he will be missing the season opener at Daytona. MHR has yet to announce who will drive the #35 in the opener, but Garcia should be back in the truck at Vegas. The Las Vegas race coincides with his 18th birthday, making him eligible for races at tracks larger than 1.25 miles.
Derek Kraus, the driver leaving MHR, has not announced plans for 2023.
Christian Eckes brings playoff experience to a team in need of a playoff run. With backing from NAPA, McAnally-Hinglemann has the resources to get into the playoffs and earn some wins in 2023. Jake Garcia is going to have an excellent teammate in Eckes, whose experience can help Garcia in his bid for the 2023 rookie of the year campaign.
