TIMOTHY PETERS, No. 17 Red Horse Racing Toyota Tundra, Red Horse Racing
What are your expectations for the race at Martinsville?
“Nothing but a win, but we know these wins are hard to come by. Being able to go to victory lane last week (at Talladega) was definitely a big confidence and momentum booster for myself and the whole entire Red Horse Racing team. To have an opportunity to go back-to-back and really feel strong about it coming into Martinsville, we thought that all week. You kind of have to look at Martinsville and Talladega as one in the same — you have to race the race track. If we can see the start-finish line, maybe we’ll have a shot at it.”
What are the similarities between the Martinsville and Talladega races?
“You look at it as this race is 50 laps shorter than the spring. The similarities is knowing when to go, who to race and how to race them. Keeping all the fenders on it to where you can continue at the end. The biggest part between the two is just protecting your equipment. You have to do that at both places. We found out in the spring that you could be leading like we were and a truck goes through the grass on the infield, puts a little bit on the race track and I was the first one to it and it kind of took our chances away at possibly getting a victory in the spring. I look at it as the momentum that we had the first two races is the same momentum that we have now. We capitalized last week and hopefully we can improve our position by five tomorrow.”
Did you feel confident in being able to win at Talladega?
“We unloaded chassis 12 last week and hit the race track for the first time and it was the same truck that we had at Daytona. From Daytona to the time it was ready to go to Talladega, all we had to do was fluff and buff — we didn’t get any damage on the truck. It drafted well and ran really well. We missed the win by .017-of-a-second. We hit the track last Friday morning, our truck was good. I drafted with John Wes (Townley) and he and I put up a really good time just us two trucks not in a big pack. I knew if we could protect our equipment and make it to the end, we might have a legitimate shot. The thing about it is, did you go to Talladega thinking that you were going to win? Yes. Other circumstances kind of involved how you do, absolutely. It just worked out well for us. As far as going forward and other tracks that are coming up that we kind of need to work on — I want to improve my results at Texas. I only have one top-10 finish there and we had a really great truck in the summer there and unfortunately we were caught up in a little wreck. Looking forward to getting back there and trying to make up what we lost.”
Where does the Talladega win rank compared to other victories in your career?
“I was asked that question earlier this week and the thing about wins in the Camping World Truck Series or Nationwide or Cup — you never know when the next one is going to come. All of them are very important — all of them when you go to victory lane are magical, enthusiastic. I look at Talladega, that all eight wins that I have been fortunate to get, they’re all a push. Obviously, the Martinsville win stands out because it’s home for me and I’ve had a lot of success with the Late Model here as well as the truck. That one would definitely be number one on my list, but all of them are equal just because they’re so hard. The competition in this series is so tough. The amount of time that you are able to spend in the series, you don’t know the longevity so you make the most of it while you can. The only thing that I wish I would be able to experience would be having my wife and son in victory lane with me. Hopefully we have four races left and one that I know he will be at and she’ll be at will be tomorrow. I hope we can get that and add a ninth win. All of them are just the same — one doesn’t out rank higher than the other one.”
What is the relationship like between yourself and Marcus Richmond?
“Me and Marcus (Richmond, crew chief) go back to eighth grade and junior high school when we first met. We’ve been best friends and worked together, we’ve got championships in Late Model and to get the first win together in the Truck Series was pretty special for me. When we went our own ways after Bobby Hamilton — we talked every other day and then a week wouldn’t go by and we would all have dinner together or something. We always kept in contact and knew that one day we would get back together and it would be the dream team. I never thought it would take eight years to get back together. I was glad that Tom (DeLoach, team owner) was interested in bringing him over and I’m glad Marcus was interested in coming over and being my crew chief. This year has been a struggle and a struggle as far as good luck. Last week was kind of like the bad luck is out the window and you’re able to get on the momentum train like we know we can get on and win races. That’s been the hard part. It isn’t that I’ve given up on him or he’s given up on me, it’s that we’ve had speed every week, but it’s the type of deal up until last week if we didn’t have bad luck it seemed like we’d have no luck. We’re pushing through it and our relationship is good. It’s time to get some more wins and get up in the top-three in points.”
What does the local support mean to you?
“I just have a lot of great supporters in Danville (Va.) and Martinsville. One of my biggest supporters is Barry Nelson and the fine folks at Nelson Toyota and everybody at Autos by Nelson. Barry is a hustler and he pushes hard and he’s a big fan and he gets my name out there. Doing interviews talking about what we did last weekend or doing commercial spots for the local news and TV — I have family and friends in Danville that are very supportive — local news reporters who have been covering me since I could barely look over this counter right here. I’ve had a lot of great people that helped me to get to where I’m at today financially, moral support, fan support — it’s been huge.”
Do you have a desire to move to the Nationwide or Sprint Cup Series?
“I look at it as I love the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. I’m 34 and I realize that every birthday the number isn’t reducing, it’s gaining. My window of opportunity is closing, I do realize that. If Rick Hendrick called tomorrow and said he was interested in putting me in the 24, obviously we’re all human and we’re going to look at that. Tom DeLoach (team owner) took a chance on me back in 2009 and I’ve grown my career there. We’ve grown together and when we can unload that Tundra off the lift gate and win races and contend for championships, I’m happier than a big sunshine. I’m happy where I’m at.”
What would it mean to win a grandfather clock tomorrow afternoon?
“It would be huge to me. My first win here was this race in 2009 and I got the cup, but I’m not complaining because I was able to check that first win and do it at home. In 2005, I was able to get the victory here in the Late Model race and got the clock. That bad boy is at my Mom’s house and she took claim to that. Sara (Peters, wife) really wants a clock and so do I because I haven’t been able to get a win since the clock had come out. Really looking to have a clock that chimes at home and Sara has reminded me of that several times. It would mean a lot to me and would be special to my family to get that. It’s always a cool trophy to have.”
