NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Rookie of the year contender Timothy Peters parlayed a good qualifying effort and a well-handling truck into a top-ten finish at the Kroger 200 at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday afternoon. Peters pushed his Bailey’s Dodge to the front of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series field on lap 59 and led until the race’s halfway mark on lap 100.

“The Bailey’s Dodge was really good in testing here at Martinsville; it was really good in qualifying and in the race today.” Peters said following the event. “The win in the Bailey’s 300 late-model race here a couple of weeks ago gave me a lot of confidence and momentum heading into this race. I am just thankful for the opportunity I have here in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. I learned a lot of things during the race today. We had a new look here with the yellow Bailey’s Dodge paint scheme, maybe we will have some new results in my last few races this year.” 

No. 4 Bailey’s Dodge Timothy Peters Kroger 200 Recap

• Peters started the weekend out on the right foot by posting the third quickest time in Friday’s practice session.
• Peters qualified his Bailey’s Dodge in the eighth starting position.
• Caught on the outside at the start of the event Peters used extreme patience until he found an opening to the inside line in the event’s first ten laps.
• Peters worked his way into the top-five by lap 19.
• Peters took over the fourth spot on lap 23.
• When the leaders came to pit road on lap 54 following Tam Topham’s accident in turn three Peters inherited the lead. It was the first time Peters had led in his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career.  During this time he babied his brakes saying the pedal felt soft so he wanted to take it easy for the remaining laps.
• Peters held the lead for 46 laps relinquishing it to Ted Musgrave on lap 101 despite some brutal battles from veteran competitors, Peters proved the lead was his to have for those laps.
• The caution flag fell on lap 102 when Robert Pressley lost control and slammed the wall in turn two. Peters brought his Bailey’s Dodge down pit road in the third position. A pair of miscues, Peters stopped short and then when he moved forward the air hose was stuck under the tire, slowed the four tire and fuel stop.  As a result Peters exited the pits in the 18th spot.
• Peters steadily moved up through the field and was in the 11th position when the red flag was displayed on lap 157 for a multi-truck accident.
• Peters moved back into the top ten by lap 164.
• With just a handful of laps remaining Peters muscled his way by former NCTS champion Ron Hornaday out of the groove to claim the eighth position in the Kroger 200.

“We have had some good runs going this year that were marred by idiotic stuff,” Peters said. “It is nice to be able to finish this run off. To come back here and run with these veterans and for me to stand my ground was a lot of fun. Early in the year I showed them some courtesy and respect but I came back here ready to race. I am going to race them as hard as they race me.”

Ricky Craven won the Kroger 200, Todd Kluever, Brandon Whitt, Ted Musgrave and Kyle Busch followed in the top five.