Owner DeLoach Calls Timothy Peters 'Breath Of Fresh Air'
08-10-2009 6:04 pm

Red Horse Racing and owner Tom DeLoach haven't tasted a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory since 2006, but everything points to win No. 3 being just over the horizon.

DeLoach was able to bring aboard Timothy Peters to drive the No. 17 Strutmasters.com Toyota in mid-June.

Success was both immediate and lasting.

Peters, without a top-five finish in 43 starts entering the 2009 season, posted fourths in two of his most recent three starts, with his first NCWTS Keystone Light Pole tossed in for good measure at Nashville Superspeedway.

To say that DeLoach is delighted would be understatement.

"I am thoroughly pleased with what I have seen in Timothy," he said. "His work ethic, demeanor and personality make him a pleasure to have here on our team. He can work on the trucks and really understand all the mechanics. You don't find that very often in a driver.

"Timothy is a wonderful person and a breath of fresh air."

Crew chief Chad Kendrick echoes the owner's sentiments.

"I haven't worked with very many drivers but I have never seen one as hands-on as he is. He is here at the shop at seven every morning when the guys get here and he comes all the way from Virginia," said Kendrick. "He has worked on his own equipment for so long, it's hard for him to let go and let us take care of it."

Peters, a native of Providence, N.C., honed his racing skills in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. He got his NASCAR national series break in 2005-06 competing in 33 races for Bobby Hamilton Racing. Peters moved to Nashville to work on Hamilton's Dodges between races, gaining experience inside the cockpit and out that he's putting to good use at Red Horse Racing.

The 28-year-old Peters and Kendrick started the season with Premier Racing, a team on a tight budget. They joined DeLoach's team when Johnny Benson was released in June.

"Our equipment and the people have really made the difference for us. It's not just one thing or one person but a combination of everything that has made us better," said Peters. "I have great equipment under me at the race track each and every week."

Peters likes working on his trucks but the difference is that now, it's not a necessity.

"Our team before consisted of me and (Chad) working on the trucks. Now neither of us is responsible for so many different things so we can both concentrate on our jobs," he said. "I can focus on being a driver and getting better each week."