Peters Earns First Top-Five Finish of 2017

Timothy Peters notched a season-best fifth-place finish at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Friday night’s North Carolina Education Lottery 200. The result is his second top-five finish at Charlotte and ties his track-best finish. In Thursday’s two practice sessions, Peters was shown 17th and 21st on the speed chart, but thanks to thoughtful adjustments by crew chief Chad Kendrick and company overnight, Peters advanced to the second round of qualifying on Friday afternoon and started from the 10th position. When the green flag dropped, Peters immediately moved forward into the top-five in the first five circuits, despite a snug condition that lingered from Thursday’s practices. While running seventh late in Stage 1, Kendrick elected to keep Peters on track during a lap 34 caution period. The strategy call positioned Peters to collect one point at the end of Stage 1. Peters made his first pit stop under the following caution on lap 42 for four tires, fuel, and minimal air pressure and track bar changes to aid his snug condition. He restarted 17th on lap 47, but wouldn’t stay there for long. In turns one and two, Peters went to the top line and made a stunning three wide move to advance seven positions back inside the top-10 on the first lap after the restart. He continued to make quick work of the trucks in front and made his way back into the top-five by lap 59. While running inside the top seven during the stage, Peters radioed to the #17 team that he needed additional lateral and front grip. Peters took the green and white checkered flag in eighth at the end of Stage 2 and collected three additional points. Peters made his final trip to pit road at the end of Stage 2 for four tires, fuel, and air pressure changes to combat his tight balance. Peters restarted from the sixth position on lap 88. He lined up sixth for the final two-lap dash and made the most of restarting in the outside lane to finish fifth. The result is Peters’ best finish of the 2017 season thus far, and has him in a tie for fifth in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series points after five races.