Timothy Peters gains first career victory, winning in truck race at Martinsville

Timothy Peters wins truck race at Martinsville

MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Timothy Peters took the lead when Denny Hamlin pitted on the 117th lap Saturday and won the NASCAR truck series race at Martinsville Speedway.

It is the first career victory for Peters, who lives in nearby Danville.

“It’s awesome. Words can’t describe what I’m feeling right now,” Peters said after being doused with frigid water in victory lane by points leader Ron Hornaday Jr. and others.

Peters stopped just once in the 200-lap race, after just 33 laps, and led the final 84 laps, holding off Todd Bodine over three restarts to cruise to the win by 1.815 seconds.

The biggest question at the end was whether he would have enough fuel.

In the spring, Peters was running fifth at Martinsville with eight laps remaining when he ran out of gas, and crew chief Chad Hedrick found it difficult not to fret until the end.

“I don’t think I watched the last eight laps at all,” Hedrick said.

The victory came in Peters’ 64th career start in the series.

“I wanted to race today really bad because I knew in race trim we had a really good truck,” he said. “The last time I’ve been in a victory lane was ‘05, and it was here.”

That win, though, came in a late model race.

Peweters’ victory was popular among his competitors.

“I’m really tickled to see Timmy win. He’s a great kid,” Bodine said during his postrace interview. “As soon as I leave here I’m going to go find him. I think the world of him.”

Hornaday finished fourth and extended his lead to 224 points over Matt Crafton with four races remaining. Hornaday is seeking his record fourth championship in the series.

Bodine finished second, followed by Colin Braun; Kevin Harvick was fifth.