Timothy Peters started the NextEra Energy Resources 250 from the rear of the field in a backup Tundra and was running ninth when he was caught up in the “Big One” during the season-opening event at Daytona International Speedway which relegated him to a 24th-place finish. After posting the eighth-fastest lap in first practice on Thursday, February 19, the veteran driver was spun by another driver in the opening laps of the first round of qualifying on Friday afternoon. The crew quickly prepared the backup truck, which Peters had piloted to a win at Daytona in 2010, and hustled to the grid in time to start the race. The No. 17 Red Horse Racing Toyota Tundra started at the rear of the field, but after stopping for four tires while under caution on lap 14, Peters restarted the 100-lap event in the 19th position. Crew chief Marcus Richmond made the call to come down pit road during the second caution of the evening for fuel, and Peterswas able to drive his way into the top 10 by lap 39 after taking the green in 15th. He was riding in ninth place when another driver near the front of the single-file line of trucks suddenly slowed and caused a multi-truck pileup, collecting Peters and several other contenders on lap 48, ending his night. The Danville, Virginia resident was credited with a 24th-place finish.
Start – 32
Finish – 24
Driver Points Position – 20
Laps Led – 0
Timothy Peters Quote
“We unloaded our Tundra yesterday and it was really good and then today everything just seemed to fall to pieces. After the incident during qualifying we had to unload (truck number) 140 – we started in the back and kind of took it easy for a little while. It just goes to show you that anything can happen here regardless of where you’re at. Testament goes to the guys here for getting our No. 17 Red Horse Racing Tundra backup as good as our primary, and getting it on the line. It is what it is – it would be worse if we were riding in the back and it happened while running 30th, but at least we were running strong in the top-10 so we can be proud about that.”
RHR PR
