Peters Has Solid NASCAR Busch Series Debut at Memphis

Timothy Peters

Timothy Peters did just fine for himself and the No. 29 Emerson/CarMax team in earning a 13th-place finish in his NASCAR Busch Series debut Saturday at Memphis Motorsports Park.

The Providence, N.C., native started the Sam’s Town 250 from the 10th position after a qualifying run Saturday morning of 23.042 seconds at 117.177 mph.

The handling of the Emerson/CarMax Chevrolet was a little free up off the corners at the beginning of the race. However, Peters was able to pick up some spots on the track and was sixth when the race’s first caution was displayed on lap 47.

The caution allowed Peters to bring the No. 29 machine down pit lane for a minor chassis adjustment, four tires and fuel. A miscue on pit road send him back out in the 13th position for the restart on lap 50.

On lap 52, a spin in turn 4 collected Peters and several other cars. The No. 29 machine only suffered minor front-end damage and he was able to stay on the racetrack. Peters restarted the race in the 14th spot on lap 55.

Peters continued to race inside the top 20 for the next 45 laps. Unfortunately, on lap 100 when Peters was trying to pass Steven Wallace for the 19th position, Wallace got into the rear quarter-panel of the No. 29 and sent both of them flying into the outside wall in turn 4. Peters’ No. 29 machine suffered minor right-front damage and the No. 29 team worked hard to fix the damage under the caution period. The Emerson/CarMax crew was able to fix the damage and Peters was listed in the 28th spot, the last car on the lead lap, for the restart on lap 103.

Peters didn’t let the damage to his race car slow him down. He methodically worked his way thought the field and was back inside the top 20 by lap 132. He was 15th by lap 176, 14th by lap 206 and picked up on more position in the final 20 laps.

Peters’ Richard Childress Racing teammate Kevin Harvick won his eighth Busch Series race of the year. Peters’ other teammate Clint Bowyer finished second.

Carl Edwards, Johnny Sauter and Shane Huffman rounded out the top five.

TIMOTHY PETERS - NO. 29 EMERSON/CARMAX CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO SS

“We finished. I had a lot of fun. That’s what we wanted to do, and we accomplished it. I’m relieved because I have looked forward to this moment for a long time. The Emerson/CarMax Chevy was really good. I had a couple of incidents on the racetrack but the crew fixed the damage and the car still raced really well. For the first time out I think it was pretty good. I have prepared a long time for this one so it was nice to get a top-15 finish.”