8/5/2015
Peck Rebounds, Finishes Seventh at “Little Belleville”
(Photo by Connor Hamilton Photography)
BELLEVILLE, Ill. – Luck has been one thing missing from Justin Peck’s 2015 season. Whether it’s in heat races, lower mains, or A-Mains, it just hasn’t been on his side often. After a water pump issue sidelined him on July 24, the young driver missed the following night’s event. A broken torsion stop put him out of Saturday’s event, before Peck could at least momentarily shake the monkey from his back. On Sunday evening at Belle-Clair Speedway, he took a seventh-place finish to regain confidence in his machine and himself.
The Saturday/Sunday POWRi doubleheader began with an appearance at Tri-State Speedway. The southern Indiana quarter-mile hosted 15 midget racers, with Peck to start fifth in the first of two heat races. Garnering one spot put him in fourth at the checkered.
Passing points lined up the main event, and thus Peck earned inside row four on the grid. After an early red flag, Peck rounded out the top five as point leader Darren Hagen pulled away with the lead. Soon, Peck had bigger problems. On lap 13, the Monrovia, Ind. native entered turn one and tipped his DRC Chassis onto its side, a result of a torsion stop breaking and upsetting the car. The machine was too damaged to resume, and Peck took an 11th-place scoring.
Sunday night offered a significantly higher car count, with three heat races of eight midgets apiece to make 24. From outside row three in heat two, Peck passed one competitor to finish in fifth.
All cars transferred to the main event, and Peck was set to roll from 13th. Before the green flag waved, the No. 5x was operating without brakes, but Peck decided to give it a try anyways. Meticulously picking off several cars throughout, he found himself in a battle to break into the top five in the closing laps. Though unable to complete that charge, Peck overcame the brake trouble en route to the seventh finishing position.
Peck would like to thank Dura Coat Products, Factory Kahne, Simpson Race Products, Lucas Oil, Keizer Wheels, Hoosier Racing Tire, Saldana Racing Products, Pit Stop BBQ & Grill, Quick Change Products, and Spider Graphix, as well as his parents, Joe Devin, Carl Thomas, Rich Gabel, Jon Steed, Mike Gass, Zack Burks, and all of his fans for their continued support.
Peck is next scheduled to compete on August 15 at Montpelier Motor Speedway in Montpelier, Ind.? in the No. 5x midget entry.
Quick Results
August 1 – Haubstadt, IN – Midget – Heat: 4th (5); Feature: 11th (7)
August 2 – Belleville, IL – Midget – Heat: 5th (6); Feature: 7th (13)
2015 Stats
20 races, 13 features, 0 wins, 2 top fives, 7 top tens, 6 DNFs
Social Media
Website: http://www.justinpeckracing.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/justin.racing.9
Twitter: http://twitter.com/justin_peck5
Instagram: http://instagram.com/justin_peck5
Article Credit: Redbeard Promotions
