Texas: Timothy Peters race report

TIMOTHY PETERS AND THE #17 RED HORSE RACING TEAM BRING HOME A 7TH PLACE FINISH IN THE LONE STAR STATE.

Behind the wheel of a strong truck all race long, Peters earned his sixth top-10 finish of the season, keeping himself in the thick of the points battle.

FORT WORTH, TX. (June 4)- Timothy Peters and the #17 Red Horse Racing team carried momentum from a tenth place finish in Charlotte all the way to Texas on Friday night. Aboard his favorite chassis, Peters snagged another top-10 finish, his sixth of the season. Putting his #17 Tundra in the 11th starting spot, Peters was ready for the long, hot night ahead. With temperatures hitting the 100 degree mark, he was determined to beat the heat and his competitors when the green flag dropped. Peters worked his way into the top-five and reached the second spot in the final 30 laps of the race. He was poised to make a run for the lead when a late caution came out and closed the field back up. Peters got shuffled back on the restart and made contact with the outside wall. Unwilling to give up, he made use of every inch of real estate and brought home a seventh place finish at Texas Motor Speedway.

The #17 Red Horse Racing team unloaded Peters' favorite chassis on Thursday morning and it was fast right from the start of practice. Peters backed up his practice speeds with an 11th place qualifying effort that afternoon. When the team returned to the track on Friday afternoon, temperatures were rising to the 100 degree mark. Unfazed by the heat, the competitors were gearing up for an old fashioned shoot-out under the lights in the Lone Star State.

When the green flag dropped, Peters was ready to make his way to the front. After five laps, he reported the truck was just a little free getting into the corners. Still running 11th, Peters commented that the nose of his truck felt like it was slamming the race track in turn three. 10 laps later, he radioed the crew that his Tundra was starting to get better. An early caution came out on lap 18 and Peters told crew chief Jeff Hensley about a vibration he was feeling in the tires. Just to be safe, Hensley called his driver to pit road on lap 20 to change the tires and fill up with fuel. He also called for a track bar adjustment on the pit stop.

Peters restarted 10th but in one lap he had passed two trucks and claimed the eighth spot. When asked about his truck's feel, he reported it felt freer in the center of the corners than it had on the last run. Still running eight on lap 36, Peters once again reported a vibration in his truck. Not sure of the source, Peters was taking it easy but still managed to pass three more trucks to take over the fifth spot on lap 55. Feeling just a little tight on the low groove of the race track, Peters took over the fourth spot but the vibration seemed to be getting worse. Nearing the fuel window with no caution in sight, Hensley called Peters to pit road for a green flag pit stop on lap 69. Taking four fresh tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment, Peters blended back on track in the 14th spot.

While the leader of the race was on pit road, the caution came out on lap 75. Peters had worked his way to the seventh spot but was put a lap down by the caution. Hensley told his driver to stay out and take the wave around to get back on the lead lap. He restarted sixth on lap 81 and reclaimed the fifth spot on lap 83.

Another quick caution came out on lap 85 and Peters hit pit road for just a splash of gas. He restarted seventh but quickly took over the sixth spot. Reporting that his truck was starting to get better on lap 105, Peters was struggling with a worn out right front tire. Taking it easy, Peters worked his way to the fifth spot before another caution came out on lap 129.

Peters hit pit road for his final stop of the night on lap 130. Taking four fresh tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment, he gained spots on pit road and restarted third. Just one lap later he claimed the second spot and was running faster lap times than the leader. With 17 laps to go, the caution flag waved and closed the field back up. Restarting on the outside, Peters got a bump from behind and got shuffled back on the restart. A lap later, the #17 slapped the outside retaining wall and fell to the seventh spot. His Tundra was overheating and sustained right front damage but Peters wasn't willing to give up. He did everything he could to maintain his position and finish out the race. When the checkered flag fell, he claimed the seventh spot and earned his sixth top-10 finish of the season in only eight races. Peters currently sits third in the Camping World Truck Series driver point standings, just 135 points behind the leader.

The NASCAR Camping World Truck series heads to Michigan this weekend. The VFW 200 at Michigan International Speedway is scheduled for Saturday, June 12th.

-source: rhr