RACE REPORT
NextEra Energy Resources 250
Daytona International Speedway
Feb. 21, 2014
Timothy Peters
No. 17 Valvoline/Express Oil Change
Toyota Tundra
Timothy Peters Finishes Second in the Closest NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Finish at Daytona International Speedway
Timothy Peters and the Valvoline/Express Oil Change team came within 0.016 seconds of victory in the NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona International Speedway, finishing second in the narrowest margin in NASCAR Camping World Truck Series history at the 2.5-mile facility. Inclement weather throughout the afternoon forced the cancellation of qualifying and the introduction of the new time trials format. The field was instead set by practice speeds, which placed the No. 17 Valvoline/Express Oil Change Toyota Tundra in the 18th position for the green flag. In the opening laps, Peters reported to new crew chief and high school best friend Marcus Richmond that the red and white machine was free and in need of rear stability. A competition caution on lap 20 gave the No. 17 team the opportunity to work on the Tundra’s handling, providing Peters a full tank of fuel, and track bar and rear shock adjustments. Armed with a neutral-handling truck, the veteran driver drove to the front and first took the lead on lap 58. He returned to the lead on lap 63 and remained there until the “Big One” occurred. Richmond called his driver to pit road for Sunoco fuel and sacrificed the point position. Restarting inside the top 10, Peters powered forward and took the lead once again with five laps remaining in the 100-lap event. He battled side-by-side down the front stretch on the final lap and was narrowly edged out at the checkered flag, finishing second to NASCAR Sprint Cup Series regular Kyle Busch in the Camping World Truck Series season opener. Peters leads the driver championship point standings by two points as the series takes a five-week hiatus before returning to action at Martinsville Speedway on March 29.
Start – 18 Finish – 2 Driver Points Position – 1 Laps Led – 20
Timothy Peters Quotes:
“What a great effort by this whole Valvoline/Express Oil Change Toyota Tundra team. All of these guys are just amazing. My old buddy Marcus Richmond (crew chief) is back with me and this is a great way to start off the season. You never want to be the bridesmaid when you have been to Victory Lane here before, but second-place at Daytona International Speedway isn’t too bad. The last time we did this (in 2012) we stayed in the thick of the battle for the championship all year. Hopefully we’ll do that again.”
“What made this truck so fast in the outside line was honestly Toyota, Red Horse Racing, the guys back at the fab shop, and Marcus Richmond (crew chief). It is a group effort. We come down here and I’m just a small percentage of the deal. Running up front and the exciting finish is a testament to those guys for building me an awesome Toyota Tundra — a good looking Toyota Tundra on top of that. I truly think this is our year. After all, it is the year of the horse.”
Germán Quiroga
No. 77 OtterBox
Toyota Tundra
Germán Quiroga Earns Top-10 Finish to Kick-Off the 2014 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Season at Daytona International Speedway
Patience paid off for Germán Quiroga who scored a top-10 finish in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season opener at Daytona International Speedway. After qualifying was cancelled due to inclement weather, the Mexico City, Mexico, native was forced to start 23rd for the NextEra Energy Resources 250. The No. 7 OtterBox Toyota Tundra was fast all night, and turned the fastest lap of the race, however Quiroga was not able to find an opening to move up through the pack. The first pit stop of the night was during a competition caution on lap 20. Crew chief Butch Hylton called for four tires and fuel. Quirgoa remained patient throughout the remainder of the race, running in the back of the pack and waiting for the right line to allow him to advance his track position. On lap 74 Quiroga was coming to pit road for a green-flag pit stop when the “Big One” took place. The timing of the multi-truck wreck allowed the team to take four tires and pack the truck with fuel, putting Quiroga in position to battle for spots on the track at the restart. With six laps to go, Quiroga was able to find an opening in the pack, and maneuvered his Tundra from 14th to 10th before the checkered flag dropped. The No. 77 team heads to Martinsville Speedway seventh in the championship point standings for the Kroger 250 on March 29.
Start – 23 Finish – 10 Driver Points Position – 7 Laps Led – 0
Germán Quiroga Quote:
“I’m really happy with our top-10 finish and think that our team is off to a great start this year. We had a really fast OtterBox Toyota Tundra, but unfortunately we couldn’t find an opening in the pack all night and had to ride around towards the back. I’m so proud of my entire team and feel really confident heading to Martinsville. I think that Butch and I have great communication going on, and feel like I’ll be able to capture that first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series win soon.”
Brian Ickler
No. 7 Bullet Liner
Toyota Tundra
Brian Ickler Gets Caught in the “Big One” in First NASCAR Camping World Series Start at Daytona International Speedway
Brian Ickler rolled off 21st in his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start at Daytona International Speedway. From the drop of the green flag, Ickler’s No. 7 Bullet Liner Toyota Tundra was a well-balanced machine that was not in need of any adjustments. He reported to crew chief Chris Carrier that the black Toyota Tundra felt good and that he was “riding around” in an effort to remain out of trouble in the 100-lap race. On lap 75, the “Big One” occurred and the Poway, Calif., native was collected in the multi-truck incident. The damage to the Tundra that had previously been driven to Victory Lane at Daytona Beach-based superspeedway was too severe to continue, and Ickler was relegated to a 33rd-place finish in the first event of the 2014 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season. The series is now entering a five-week hiatus before returning to action at Martinsville Speedway on March 29.
Start – 21 Finish – 33 Driver Points Position – 28 Laps Led – 0
Brian Ickler Quote:
“What a frustrating end to our night. We had such a great Bullet Liner Toyota Tundra. It was so well-balanced and we were just riding around and waiting until those final laps to make our move. I want to thank Bullet Liner for coming on board, and all the guys at Red Horse Racing for putting together such a great truck. It’s going to be hard to sit still for five weeks. I am ready to climb back in the No. 7 Toyota Tundra right now.”
UP NEXT: MARTINSVILLE SPEEDWAY
Following a five-week hiatus the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will return to action at Martinsville Speedway for the Sat, March 29 Kroger 250. The second race of the 2014 season is scheduled to be televised live on FOX Sports 1 at 2 p.m. Eastern Time. It will also be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.
