ackets and scarves were in abundance at Kentucky Speedway as a cold front set in as October arrived. The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series completed the 20th race of the 2011 season with championship contender Timothy Peters looking for his illusive first win at a 1.5-mile venue. It was not meant to be after a top-10 run throughout the night was derailed late in the race when the No. 17 Big O Tires/Service Central Toyota Tundra team had trouble fueling the truck. The trouble was compounded by a pit road speeding penalty and a return trip to pit road for extra fuel to make it to the end of the event. The problems late in the race resulted in a 17th-place finish for Peters.
“We had a really good run going,” said Peters following the event. “I have to say this is probably the best run we have had on a 1.5-mile so far this season. Our truck was really good on long runs when the tires heated up. However, we did not get enough fuel in the truck on the last pit stop so we were forced to come back for fuel and on top of that I was cited for a speeding penalty. Not the night we wanted for the No.17 Big O Tire/Service Central Toyota Tundra.”
Peters began the Kentucky 225 from the 13th starting position. The first caution of the evening flew on lap three. Peters reported to the team that the truck was a little aero-tight in traffic but it was really good. The team decided it was too early to come to pit road and remained on the track for the restart on lap 12. Peters cracked the top-10 on the restart continuing to advance his running position. The second caution of the evening was displayed on lap 20. Peters reported to the team that the No. 17 Big O Tire/Service Central Toyota Tundra had gotten too tight. The team called Peters to pit road for fuel only and a track-bar adjustment. Peters was scored in the seventh position for the restart on lap 25. On lap 33, Peters reported to the team that he was having issues with the clutch. This problem would make it hard for the driver of the No. 17 truck to conserve fuel and difficult getting on and off of pit road. The third caution of the evening waved on lap 41. Once again the team called Peters to pit road for fuel only and another track-bar adjustment. With many of the leaders on different strategies, Peters restarted the race as the leader.
Peters held the lead position as the caution was displayed for the fourth time. This time, Peters’ Red Horse Racing teammate was involved in an on-track incident. Under this caution period the No. 17 team debated on coming to pit road, but decided to remain the leader for the restart on lap 58. Peters was called to pit road under the next caution period on lap 65. The No. 17 team changed four tires, added fuel and made several chassis adjustments. With many of the leaders on different pit sequences Peters returned to the track in the 15th position for the restart on lap 71. Peters slowly began to work his way back toward the front of the field. By lap 83, he had moved back into the top 10 scored in the ninth position. After a rash of cautions Peters had worked his way back into the sixth position.
The team still had one final trip to pit road to make. Green-flag pit stops began, as the leaders peeled off the track one-by-one. Crew chief Butch Hylton called Peters to pit road on lap 116. During the stop the clutch problem created an issue with getting enough fuel. The team felt they did not get the truck full of fuel, but had to take time to make calculations. As Peters exited pit road, he was called back for a pass through penalty for speeding exiting the pit lane. After Peters made his second trip down pit road, he was informed that during the first stop the team had not gotten the truck full of fuel and would have to make a third trip to pit road. The multiple passes down the pit lane resulted in the loss of two laps to the leader. Peters finished the race in the Kentucky 225 in the 17th position
Peters continues to hold the fourth position in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series point standings, 40 markers out of the first position.
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