NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series rookie of the year candidate Timothy Peters must have felt a lot like a pinball in his first visit to Richmond International Speedway during Friday night’s Cheerios Betty Crocker 200. Peters was unceremoniously spun on two separate occasions by fellow NCTS competitors Brendan Gaughan and Brandon Whitt ending his chances for a top ten finish and relegating him to a 29th place finish.

“Nobody had any patience out there tonight,” Peters said after the race. ‘We just got flat ran over. They say I am a rookie but I think they need to take a look at how some of the other people in this series drive. It was simply uncalled for. I don’t race people like that and I don’t expect other people to drive like that, but I guess some of them feel like they have to. It is a shame because we had a good truck. The Bailey’s Dodge was headed for a good finish.”

 Peters started the race in the 22nd position right beside Bailey’s teammate Bobby Hamilton.

 On lap 19 Peters radioed his crew that his truck was fast but “a little too loose.”

 Brendan Gaughan makes contact with Peters’ left rear quarter panel entering turn three on lap 22 sending his Bailey’s Dodge into a long lazy spin. Peters’ Dodge suffered no significant damage. Peters came to pit road for four fresh Goodyear Wrangler tires and fuel.

 The Bailey’s Dodge team used excellent pit strategy to put Peters into the top five on lap 58. Peters runs strongly in the top ten from lap 58 through lap 83.

 On lap 84 Peters heads to pit road under caution for his last scheduled pit stop taking four tires and a full load of Sunoco fuel. While the rest of the front runners would be forced to make one more pit stop Peters is set to make it the rest of the way, insuring him excellent track position late in the race.

 The Bailey’s Dodge team’s strategy and hopes go up in smoke on lap 93 when Brandon Whitt slams hard into the rear of Peters’ Bailey’s Dodge in the middle of turns three and four. Peters makes numerous visits to pit road to repair the damage and fell three laps down to the leaders.

 Peters makes the most of his crippled ride, coming into the pits several times to fix various aliments but staying in the race and out of the way of those racing for the win. He finishes a disappointing 29th.

“I am disappointed because we had great track position, ran in the top five and showed that we belong up front,” Peters said. “We were in great shape strategy wise for the end of the race and just got taken out. All we can do is get ready for the remaining races and make the most out of the opportunities we have left this year. The sad part is I really appreciate how hard people like the Bailey’s and Bobby Hamilton have worked to give me this opportunity and others people mistakes have put a damper on that hard work and dedication.”

Mike Skinner won the Cheerios Betty Crocker 200 for his second NCTS win in a row.  Todd Bodine, Kevin Harvick, Ted Musgrave and Tracy Hines followed in the top five.