MARTINSVILLE, Va. – Timothy Peters says he isn’t looking beyond this weekend at Martinsville Speedway and his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race of the year, though the temptation to do so might still be there.
A fixture in the series for more than a decade, Peters lost his ride last year when Red Horse Racing disbanded after the fifth race of the season and has competed in the series only three times since then.
Born in nearby Danville, Virginia, Peters returns to his home track with what has to be a modicum of nostalgia. After all, he scored the first of his ten NCWTS victories at the 0.526-mile paper-clip-shaped speedway in 2009.
In Saturday’s Alpha Energy Solutions 250 (2 p.m. ET on FS1), he’ll be running a one-event deal for owner Ricky Benton. Though his focus will be on the race at hand, Peters can be forgiven if he’s hoping for more.
“I’m just glad to be back – first start of the year,” said the affable 37-year-old. “I cut my teeth on tracks around here with Late Model Stocks, so I just thank Ricky Benton for the opportunity to come up here with the BTS Ford F-150 to a place that I call home.
“I can’t wait to get out there and mix it up.”
A strong performance on Saturday could lead to additional opportunities in the series.
“Right now our focus is on (Saturday’s) race, and again, I’m thankful for what he (Benton) has done to let me drive this truck and work with (crew chief) Mike Hester,” said Peters, who finished in the top-ten in the series standings for eight straight years before last season’s abrupt hiatus.
“As far as going forward, we’ll just have to see how (Saturday) goes. Hopefully, there’s more opportunities to be back in the Trucks, and I’d really love to do it with Ricky Benton Racing.”
Saturday’s race will mark Peters’ 239th NCWTS start, but it will be his first in a Ford. Previously, Peters had driven Dodges, Chevrolets, and Toyotas.