High Sierra Photo

When Timothy Peters rolls back into Martinsville Speedway in April he'll be sporting a new set of wheels, a new boss, a familiar sponsor and a huge smile. Reigning NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Bobby Hamilton announced last Saturday that Peters would be driving one of his trucks for most of the 2005 season. Bailey's, a regional tobacco company based in Keysville that backed Peters' Late Model Stock team the past three seasons, will be the sponsor. Tuesday afternoon Hamilton and Peters, along with Bailey's founder and CEO Mac Bailey and Bailey's President Steven Bailey, unveiled the bright blue and yellow Dodge during a ceremony at the company's headquarters in Keysville. Peters will make his debut in the Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway on April 9.

"This is a really big deal, an opportunity I've been working and waiting for," said the 23 year-old Peters.

Since aligning with Bailey's three years ago, Peters has been a dominant force in Virginia and North Carolina Late Model Stock racing. He won the track championship at Orange County Speedway in Rougemont, NC in 2002 and 2003 and captured the South Boston Speedway track championship in 2004. Peters has also been solid on the .526-mile Martinsville oval in the prestigious Bailey's 300 Late Model Stock race the past five years, finishing out of the top five only once during that period. He ran second to winner Tony McGuire last fall. Before that he was third in 2003, fourth in
2002 and third in 2000.

That success and his familiarity with Martinsville's tight layout makes it a perfect place for his debut.

"I love Martinsville. I've had great experiences there * great success there," said Peters. "Hopefully I can pick up in the spring where I left off in the fall. I couldn't pick a better place for my first truck race. It couldn't get any better. It's hometown to me with all my family and friends that will be there. I love the place."

Peters still can't believe how quickly the deal came together. In early December he auditioned for another truck team. Less than a month later the deal with Hamilton and Bailey's was signed.

"Timothy actually came to Colorado to test for (truck team owner) Jim Harris and what happened, to make a long story short, we put him in my truck," recounted Hamilton. "The crew chief told him we need four good laps, that we didn't need to mess around, and he went out and laid four real fast laps down. It's funny what happened in about a matter of 20 minutes then. I went back to the roof while Timothy was running and Mac (Bailey) was there and he asked me some questions. The next thing I know, we're sitting in Nashville and we're talking business. I have a lot of faith in Timothy. I've done about all I've ever wanted to do in racing. I'll be honest, I'm looking for a young guy to fill my shoes in a couple of years."

Peters will run in the Bailey's-sponsored truck in 11 events this season, including both of the Martinsville races. Because he doesn't have NASCAR approval to run speedways yet, Casey Atwood will drive the truck the first three events of the season. He will also run one Late Model Stock event for Bailey's this season, the Bailey's 300 at Martinsville.

"When we pulled the cover back on the truck at Daytona * Bobby, myself, Mac and Steven standing there shoulder-to-shoulder, I thought about how I had watched things like this on TV and now I was actually part of it," said Peters. "It was pretty overwhelming."

Tickets for both the Advance Auto Parts 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Series race on April 10 and the Kroger 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series on April 9 are on sale and may be purchased by call 877.RACE.TIX or by visiting www.martinsvillespeedway.com.

Qualifying for both events will be on Friday, April 8. Tickets are $15 and may be purchased the day of the event.

http://www.timothypetersmotorsports.com