Red Horse Racing at Eldora Speedway
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series took to the dirt for the 11th race of the season at Eldora Speedway for the 1-800-Car-Cash Mud Summer Classic. Teams completed two practice sessions on Wednesday morning, with Timothy Peters recording the 16th-fastest lap in the first session and the third-fastest lap in the second. Ben Kennedy was 29th-fastest in both sessions, but received damage in the first after a brush with the wall. Following practice, single-truck qualifying laps set the fields for five 10-lap qualifying races. Kennedy started the second qualifying race in fifth, while Peters started the third race in the third position. Kennedy finished sixth in his qualifying race, just missing the last transfer position and forcing him to compete for a starting spot in the last chance qualifying race. Peters finished second in his qualifying race, earning him the eighth-place starting position in the Mud Summer Classic. Kennedy finished second in the last chance race, earning the 27th starting spot in the main event, but he had to start at the rear of the field after the team made unapproved adjustments. In the Mud Summer Classic, Kennedy finished 12th and Peters crossed the line in 23rd after a late-race spin.
Drop Shadow Accent Image
Ben Kennedy
No. 11 Local Motors
Toyota Tundra
Ben Kennedy Charges to 12th-Place Finish at Eldora Speedway
Ben Kennedy and the No. 11 Local Motors team overcame numerous setbacks to finish 12th as the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series returned to dirt racing at Eldora Speedway. After hard contact with the outside retaining wall during the first practice session at the famed Rossburg, Ohio short track, the No. 11 team worked relentlessly to put the Local Motors Toyota Tundra back together in time to dial it in during final practice. Kennedy turned the 22nd-fastest lap during time trials and earned the fifth starting position in the second of five qualifying races. Narrowly missing the transfer spot, Kennedy started and finished second in the Last Chance Qualifying race to secure the 27th starting position for the third annual Mud Summer Classic. A mechanical issue on the final lap required the No. 11 team to make unapproved adjustments prior to the race and forced them to start from the rear of the 32-truck field. Kennedy calmly picked off positions, one by one, climbing to 18th by the first of the two competition cautions on lap 60. Crew chief Scott Zipadelli called for four tires, fuel and a wedge adjustment in an effort to free up the black and white Tundra’s handling. Kennedy advanced 22 positions in 90 laps as he took over the 10th spot, and then claimed eighth by lap 100. The team elected to remain on the track during the lap-110 competition caution and restarted in eighth. In the closing laps of the event, the Daytona Beach, Florida native fought hard to maintain his top-10 position as the racing heated up around the half-mile facility, but slipped backwards to finish 12th.
Start – 27
Finish – 12
Driver Points Position – 10
Laps Led – 0
Ben Kennedy Quote:
“It was kind of a long day for us [at Eldora Speedway]. We struggled a bit during practice and got into the outside wall. Our heat race was pretty packed and I knew we had a lot of speed, but we missed the transfer spot by one position and had to run the last chance race. We started further back in the field than we would have liked for our Local Motors Toyota Tundra, but we drove our way up to as far as eighth at one point, which was really a big win for us after such a long day. I’m really proud of the guys. They worked their tails off today to get the truck back in shape. We had a lot of damage, a lot of bent parts and pieces after we hit the wall, and the guys stayed strong and worked really hard to put it back together. To leave here 12th after our day, and against guys that have a lot of dirt [racing] experience whereas I have basically none, is like a win. It was fun, but I’m ready to get back to asphalt racing and ready to go on to the Tricky Triangle (Pocono Raceway).”
Newsletter – Dance Drop Shadow Image
Timothy Peters No. 17
No. 17 Red Horse Racing
Toyota Tundra
Timothy Peters Finishes 23rd at Eldora Speedway
Despite a strong showing, Timothy Peters recorded a 23rd-place finish at Eldora Speedway. The Danville, Virginia, native was 16th fastest in first practice, then posted the third-fastest lap in final practice. In single-truck qualifying, Peters was 13th fastest, earning a third-place starting spot in his qualifying race. In the 10-lap qualifying race, Peters finished second after challenging for the lead. Peters started the Mud Summer Classic in eighth place and stayed within the top 10 amid much three and four-wide racing. Peters informed crew chief Marcus Richmond that his No. 17 Red Horse Racing Tundra was loose in the center and off the corner. After the first 55-lap segment, Peters came to pit road for four tires, fuel and adjustments. He restarted 13th, and fought his way into eighth, but lost position during a string of cautions. On lap 140, Peters was running 13th and spun, causing him to lose a lap to the leader and finish in the 23rd position.
Start -8
Finish – 23
Driver Points Position – 8
Laps Led – 0
Timothy Peters Quote:
“We had a great Red Horse Racing Toyota Tundra all day, and while we didn’t get the finish we were hoping for, I’m really proud of all the guys for working so hard and giving me a great truck. They did a really good job adapting to the unique racing conditions we have at Eldora (Speedway) all day. I’m looking forward to heading to Pocono (Raceway) and getting back on asphalt.”