Monday

Timothy Peters And The No. 17 K&N Team Bring Home A Seventh Place Finish At Atlanta

Filed under Press Releases, Truck Series

HAMPTON, GA. (March 6)- Timothy Peters and his #17 team go to the race track each week with one goal in mind, fighting for that 2010 Camping World Truck Series Championship. Knowing that consistency will be the key, Peters and his team keep a firm grasp on their chances with another top-10 finish. Behind the wheel of his favorite truck, affectionately called, “Coon Dog,” Peters proved that “dog could hunt.” After starting deep in the field in the 30th position, Peters wheeled the #17 inside the top-10 in just 28 laps. Spending much of the 130-lap event inside the top-10, Peters was pleased to bring home a seventh place finish and end the day with another top-10 finish. He dropped only one position in the point standings and now sits second, just four points behind the leader.

The #17 Red Horse Racing team used two practice sessions on Friday to get their Toyota Tundra ready for the race. Peters reported that his truck was driving great but the team was surprised the lap times were not faster. After finishing practice 21st quick, Peters qualified his Tundra in the 30th spot on Saturday morning. Despite having his work cut out for him, Peters wasn’t concerned at all. He knew his #17 K&N machine would drive straight to the front.

When the green flag dropped, Peters wasted no time moving forward. He jumped to the 22nd spot after just one lap and was running in the 11th position after just 23 laps. Picking up 19 spots in such a short time, Peters told his team his truck was handling really well on the bottom groove in turns three and four but just a little snug off.

The caution came out on lap 23 and crew chief Jeff Hensley called his driver to pit road. Picking up four fresh tires and fuel, the team also gave Peters air pressure and wedge adjustments. Quick work on pit road put Peters in the eighth spot for the restart.

The #17 climbed into the seventh position on lap 28 and held its own in traffic until another caution flew on lap 51. Peters reported his truck felt neutral and just a little snug in turn three, but overall the balance was good. He brought his Tundra to pit road once again on lap 54 for four fresh tires, fuel, and a minor air pressure adjustment. He restarted seventh.

With only one set of tires remaining in the pits, Hensley told his driver to be conservative until after the final stop. Peters slipped back to the 10th spot before another caution flew just two laps into the run for an accident that happened right in front of Peters. He was able to avoid any damage but reported that he might have a tire going flat. Hensley called him to pit road just to be safe and the team put the last set of tires on the truck. With only two laps on the set of tires they just took off, the team got that set ready to put back on the truck for the final stop. The unscheduled stop cost Peters some track position and he restarted 15th.

Shortly after the restart another quick caution on lap 67 slowed the field again. Peters stayed out and restarted 14th on lap 74. He quickly reported that the truck felt really good on the bottom of turns three and four. Moving his way back into the top-10 on lap 81, Peters reached the sixth spot by lap 90. Vying for each position, Peters was racing hard with the fifth place truck but every time the #17 would get a run and attempt to complete the pass the truck in front of him would take Peters’ line away. The caution came out on lap 111 and Peters reported his truck was just a little tight off of turn 2 but perfect everywhere else. The #17 hit pit road for the last stop of the day on lap 112. Taking four tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment, Peters restarted eighth for the final 14 laps of the race.

Peters got jammed up on the restart and slipped back to the 10th spot. Unwilling to give up, he clawed his way back through the field, reaching the seventh spot before the checkered flag fell. Happy and relieved to have another top-10 finish under his belt, Peters is looking forward to returning to his home track, Martinsville Speedway, in two weeks.

- Red Horse Racing Press Release