Peters captures the Kroger 200 pole at Martinsville Speedway

[media-credit id=100 align=”alignright” width=”225″][/media-credit]Timothy Peters who was born just down the road in Danville, Va, held on through two short rain delays to capture the pole for Saturdays Kroger 200 at Martinsville Speedway. Peters who finished fifth here in the spring turned a lap of 19.641 sec at 96.411 mph and bested Cup Series regular and spring race winner, Kevin Harvick by only .027secs. Brian Scott, Nelson Piquet Jr, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five. Peters currently sits third in the point standings, 26 markers out of the lead.

Championship points leader Ty Dillon will start sixth with James Buescher , who trails Dillon by only one point starting tenth. The left Talladega with the same margin that they entered with. Each driver will be trying to gain an advantage this weekend. A points battle this close is a recipe for great action on the flat half mile track.

Midway through qualifying a small rain shower dampened the track. Camping World Truck Series rookie, Caleb Holman was on track when the rain began. Holman’s Food Country Chevrolet slipped up the track in both corners, leading NASCAR officials to temporarily halt time trials. Luckily for Holman, officials gave him a second chance at qualifying, however, did require him to bolt on four new Goodyears. The team who had no sticker tires left, had to purchase four new tires in order to make a second qualifying attempt. The expensive purchase paid off as Holman qualified 29th easing their concerns about the fact that there were 41 trucks attempting to make into the 36 truck field.

Other notables: Denny Hamlin will start fifth in the Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota. Peters Red Horse Racing teammate, Parker Kligerman, who earned his first win at Talladega will take the green in 13th spot. Ryan Truex will make his Camping World Truck Series debut starting in the 17th spot.

Grant Enfinger, Brennan Newberry, Dennis Setzer, Jake Crum, and Todd Peck did not qualify for the event.