12/28/2015
Peck Collects Two Rumble Fifth-Place Finishes
(Photo by Chris Seelman)
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – While December was being nearly as difficult to Justin Peck as his entire 2015 season was, the rising star still persevered and earned three top-ten finishes in the slow month for racing. Though he missed a win at the Rumble in Ft. Wayne (Ind.) for the first time in his three years of competition, he still finished fifth in both main events there this weekend. That pair came after his dirt midget top-ten at Du Quoin’s Southern Illinois Center one week earlier.
The month started in despair, as Peck was one of many drivers who struggled at the Indy Invitational on December 12, on a tiny 1/10-mile oval constructed inside Indianapolis’ Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Unable to complete his B-Main there, Peck set out to redeem himself in Du Quoin in the Junior Knepper 55 seven days later. He was much more successful there, though a whopping 62 drivers were in attendance. Peck first rallied from the tail of his heat race, starting eighth, up to a second-place finish in a short eight-lap affair. He stayed put in his qualifier, starting and finishing fifth. The combined points total locked him into the top 12 and thus in the main event, while 50 other drivers were relegated to C- and B-Mains.
Starting 11th, Peck soon had his bad luck strike, and he was collected when the outside polesitter spun entering turn one on the start. Moved back to 19th for the restart (just 20 started), Peck gradually worked his way back forward. However, the opening-lap incident may have caused damage to the left rear tire on his Esslinger-powered DRC Chassis, and by the next caution lap nine, the tire was completely flat. Nevertheless, Peck continued on, making moves when possible on the small indoor oval, and using cautions to his advantage. It was not until lap 45 that the Brase Yourself/Dura Coat entry was back where it began the race. Peck picked off two more opponents shortly after, and took the checkered in ninth place, all while running 44 laps on a flat tire.
For the final time in 2015, Peck would again get to show his prowess behind the wheel, but this time, it’d be on pavement. Coke syrup was applied to the floor of the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, and the Mooresville High School junior was itching to go for a three-peat on his 2013 and 2014 wins. Starting off the weekend with impressive qualifying laps to go 13th on lap one (which set Saturday’s time) and a blistering 7.894-second time on the second go-around (which set Sunday’s time), good for third-quick.
Saturday’s heat race was a dominant victory for Peck, who started outside front row. With the win came a transfer into the feature. A lineup set by qualifying time among transfers put Peck starting in seventh. With the strongest cars starting up front, passing was tough on the tight, flat oval, and Peck picked up two positions to complete the top five.
After being third-quick for Sunday, the top-four inversion in each heat race meant Peck would have to start fourth, with only the top two transferring. No easy feat to pass any two cars, let alone perennial standouts Dave Darland and Billy Wease, in such a short race, the youngster managed to get it done and take the lead as the white flag waved, then held on for the win. Unfortunately, a different procedure for lineups was used for the Sunday main event, and Peck started in fifth. He attained fourth on lap eight, but quick qualifier Derek Bischak was soon at his rear bumper. Bischak made his move just before halfway, and put Peck back to fifth, and he fell another spot briefly after. It was not until the waning laps that he was able to regain the fifth position, and held on to finish there.
While Peck will be off the coming weekend, he and his team will be headed southwest to Tulsa, Okla. for the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals soon after. Practice for the event is scheduled for Monday, January 12. He’ll then compete in one preliminary night Tuesday-Friday, which will be determined later this week. The weekend culminates with all main events on Saturday, January 17. As of now, 331 teams have entered for the Mecca of dirt midget racing, and that number will continue to grow as the race nears.
Peck would like to thank Dura Coat Products, Brase Yourself, Factory Kahne, Simpson Race Products, Lucas Oil, Keizer Wheels, Hoosier Racing Tire, Saldana Racing Products, Pit Stop BBQ & Grill, Kwik 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.
Quick Results
December 12 – Indianapolis, IN – Midget – Heat: DNF (3); B-Main: DNF (2)
December 19 – Du Quoin, IL – Midget – Heat: 2nd (8); Qualifier: 5th (5); Feature: 9th (11)
December 26 – Ft. Wayne, IN – Midget – Qualifying: 13th; Heat: 1st (2); Feature: 5th (7)
December 26 – Ft. Wayne, IN – Midget – Qualifying: 3rd; Heat: 1st (4); Feature: 5th (5)
2015 Stats
36 races, 28 features, 2 wins, 3 podiums, 6 top fives, 14 top tens, 13 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
