RACE REPORT
Hyundai Construction Equipment 200
Atlanta Motor Speedway
February 28, 2015
Red Horse Racing at Atlanta Motor Speedway
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series returned to Atlanta Motor Speedway this weekend for the first time since 2012 and was the second event in a NASCAR doubleheader at the 1.54-mile race track. The Nos. 17 and 11 Toyota Tundra teams posted the 11th and 13th-fastest times during Friday’s single practice session, and returned Saturday morning for knock-out qualifying. Both Red Horse Racing teams advanced to the second session, with Timothy Peters earning the 16th starting position for the No. 17 Tundra. Kennedy and the No. 11 Local Motors team moved on to the final round and secured the pole position, Kennedy’s career first, for the Hyundai Construction Equipment 200. Never falling below 11th in the running order, Kennedy drove the Local Motors Tundra to a third-place finish in the 130-lap race. Peters overcame multiple tire challenges to bring home a ninth-place result.
Newsletter – Dance Drop Shadow Image
Ben Kennedy
No. 11 Local Motors
Toyota Tundra
Kennedy Earns First Pole Award and Matches Career-Best Finish of Third in First Visit to Atlanta Motor Speedway
Ben Kennedy earned his first career pole award, and drove to a third-place finish in the Hyundai Construction Equipment 200 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Making his first visit to the Hampton, Georgia race track, the 2014 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Rookie of the Year posted the 13th-fastest time in Friday’s practice session. Kennedy returned Saturday morning and advanced the No. 11 Local Motors Toyota Tundra to the final round of knock-out qualifying where he was the only competitor to record a lap time to earn the Keystone Light pole award. When the green flag dropped that evening, Kennedy led the first lap and then settled into the second position until the first caution of the race occurred on lap 12. Restarting in the outside line, he found the track’s surface to be slick and fell back temporarily in the running order. Reporting a slight tight condition on the black and white Tundra, he brought the machine to pit road for routine four-tire pit stops on three occasions throughout the 130-lap event where crew chief Scott Zipadelli called for minor chassis and air pressure adjustments. Kennedy was a mainstay in the top five for the final half of the event, and powered to a third-place result, matching his career-best finish.
Start – 1
Finish – 3
Driver Points Position – 7
Laps Led – 1
Ben Kennedy Quote:
“We had a great run tonight in the Local Motors Toyota Tundra and were really good on the long runs. This was my first visit to Atlanta Motor Speedway and I really like it. I learned a lot this weekend. The track has a lot of character and it’s a lot of fun. To come back and finish third here after our weekend at Daytona (International Speedway) it felt like a win and shows how hard everyone at Red Horse Racing works – at the shop and at the track. Scott (Zipadelli) came in a month or so ago and has the No. 11 team working really well. Thank you to Local Motors for coming on board with us, too. I’m just really excited for this year.”
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Timothy Peters No. 17
No. 17 Red Horse Racing
Toyota Tundra
Timothy Peters Survives Three Blown Tires with Top-Ten Finish
On a brisk day at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Timothy Peters qualified his No. 17 Red Horse Racing Toyota Tundra 16th for the Hyundai Construction Equipment 200, and despite having three flat right front tires, finished in the ninth position. The 130-lap NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race was the second of a Saturday doubleheader with the NASCAR Xfinity Series at the Hampton, Georgia track. On Friday, Peters posted the 11th-fastest time in practice, and on Saturday, he advanced to the second round of knock-out qualifying and earned the 16th starting position. After the race started, Peters quickly moved into the top 10 by lap 18, and when the yellow flag flew and he brought his Tundra in for service. Crew chief Marcus Richmond made the call for two tires and fuel, and Peters left pit road in second place, as most teams took four tires. He was riding in seventh-place on lap 47 when he felt a vibration and a lap later had a right front tire go down. However, at the same time, the caution flag flew for an unrelated incident and Peters was able to come to pit road and get four fresh tires and a chassis adjustment. Peters restarted in the 20th position and made his way through the field and was back in the top 10 on lap 77, when he again had a flat right front tire. This time, the flat occurred during green-flag pit stops, so the No. 17 team quickly changed the tire and sent him back out without losing much ground. As the field cycled through pit stops, Peters was scored in eighth place, which he maintained during the closing laps. With two laps to go, the Danville, Virginia resident experienced a third flat right front tire, but managed to stay on track for the final two circuits and take the checkered flag in the ninth position.
Start – 16
Finish – 9
Driver Points Position – 11
Laps Led – 0
Timothy Peters Quote:
“We didn’t think we had any concerns since we weren’t the only ones having tire issues. It seemed like a lot of other guys were as well. For three right fronts to go, actually coming to the white flag, the right front went out again, so to have all those problems and still come home ninth, was a pretty good night. I’m proud of everybody on this Red Horse Racing Tundra team. It was a fast truck; just had a few gremlins,. We’re going to Martinsville (Speedway), my home track, next and I always feel good about that.”