Timothy Peters: Talladega Superspeed​way Race Report

Timothy Peters and the No. 17 Red Horse Racing Toyota Tundra team traveled to Talladega Superspeedway on Saturday afternoon to compete in the milestone 300th NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start for Red Horse Racing. By steering clear of all incidents and maintaining a position inside the top-10 all afternoon, Peters placed himself in contention for the win with just a few short laps remaining in the fred’s 250 powered by Coca-Cola. Linking up with teammate Parker Kligerman on the final restart, Peters pushed his way into the top-five and maneuvered into the lead pack draft to claim a fifth place finish.

 

A two-hour practice session for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) competitors on Friday afternoon gave Peters and crew chief Butch Hylton the opportunity to find the best balance of speed and drafting ability with their No. 17 Tundra. Hard work from the entire Red Horse Racing organization showed off during qualifying, as the team put forth its best superspeedway qualifying efforts, with Peters starting from the eighth spot and teammates Todd Bodine and Parker Kligerman on either side.

 

The opening 15 laps of the 250-mile main event went caution free as Peters, Kligerman and Bodine took advantage of their solid qualifying efforts and lined up nose to tail to draft in the low line; single file and riding safely inside the top-10. Under the first caution on lap 16, crew chief Butch Hylton elected to bring Peters down pit road to top off with fuel and stay on sequence with the rest of the lead pack. Restarting the next segment still inside the top-10, Peters remained patient with the help of spotter Tony Hirschman until the next caution on lap 33. Hylton took the opportunity to bring Peters onto pit road for two right side tires and a minor adjustment.

 

Reporting his Toyota Tundra was able to suck up to the competitors in front of him well and push well, Peters continued to keep his patience and ride in line until the next opportunity for a pit stop under the third caution of the afternoon on lap 47. The No. 17 pit crew performed a fast fuel only pit stop and sent their driver back out for the restart in the second spot. This gave Peters the perfect opportunity to make a strong move to the outside on the restart and take over the lead coming off of turn two, receiving valuable bonus points for the NCWTS championship battle. He soon settled back into the second position, claiming his Tundra did better as the truck giving a push in the draft.

 

A late race caution set up a six lap dash to the finish, and a perfect scenario for teammates Kligerman and Peters on the restart as they lined up nose to tail in second and fourth. After retaking the green, Peters gave Kligerman a shove forward into the draft before getting disconnected with him and sliding into the low line to save his spot in the top-five. With the quick maneuver, Peters held his position as several trucks behind him began to wreck on the final lap, bringing out the caution and locking in a fifth place finish for the driver of the No. 17 Tundra.

 

“It was a typical, wild Talladega race. Parker and I were hooked up there on the last restart and we had a good plan worked out to link up and head to the lead, but my Tundra was just too tight to keep up with him and push. We got disconnected but I was able to duck back in line, and coming away with a top-five finish after having a fast Toyota Tundra all race long is nothing to hang our heads about for sure,” Peters said.

 

“I’m happy for Parker and really proud of this Red Horse Racing team. That truck he drove has three superspeedway wins now and that just shows how prepared and how great this team really is.”

 

RHR PR