5/12/2016
Peck Heads Into Off-Week Fifth in POWRi Standings
(Photo by Connor Hamilton Photography)
MONROVIA, Ind. – With seven races in the books for the 2016 POWRi National Midget Series title hunt, Monrovia, Ind. racer Justin Peck sits inside the top five in the season points tally. His current fifth-place standing comes after an up-and-down weekend in western Missouri, which began with a 19th-place finish after a flat tire at Valley Speedway in Grain Valley on Friday, but quickly turned around on Saturday at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland with an outstanding fourth-place run from the 14th starting spot.
Valley Speedway hosted an impressive count of 39 midgets, set for five heat races. In heat three, Peck started outside the front row and captured the lead soon after the drop of the green to earn the heat win.
The main event, set for 30 laps, began with Peck on the inside of row three. The Mooresville (Ind.) High School junior bounded forward immediately, taking over the third spot on the low side of the speedway by the exit of turn two, and nabbed second on lap two. Before another lap was complete, the yellow would wave to put Peck right on leader Spencer Bayston’s rear bumper for the restart. Peck continued to use the inside line while Bayston maneuvered the top. Peck attempted a slidejob on lap four, but the leader countered and pulled away. An avid challenge from Zach Daum came soon after; Peck and Daum battled momentarily but Daum eventually took the spot. Soon after, it became apparent that something was amiss onboard the Dura Coat Products No. 5x, as Peck began to fall back slightly. By lap 12, he had slipped to sixth. Doing everything he could to combat what was eventually discovered to be a slowly-leaking right rear tire, Peck ultimately slowed to a stop in turn two with six laps to go while running in the ninth position. A new tire was fitted on the Toyota-powered DRC Chassis, but with little time to rebound, Peck finished in 19th.
Knowing that the result wasn’t indicative of their result, the Peck Motorsports team traveled south to Lucas Oil Speedway in hopes of a strong rebound. 34 midgets entries signed in on this night, with Peck in the first of four heat races. Little passing took place on the lightning-quick track; Peck started and finished in third.
The effort was just enough to get Peck directly into the main event, 14th in passing points of the 16 to lock in. Starting outside row seven, Peck nabbed four positions on the first circuit to crack the top ten. In just five more laps, he had already attained the sixth position utilizing the inside of the 3/8-mile “Diamond of Dirt Tracks.” Working hard for several laps to reel in Daum, Peck finally made his move past and into the top five on lap 14 when Daum erred on the speedway’s tough cushion. A final move past Oklahoman Tyler Thomas came just a few laps later. The race’s lone caution came on lap 23, and Peck momentarily moved past Bayston into the third position down the back straightaway on the restart, but surrendered the position back entering turn three. Peck continued to hound Bayston for third, but couldn’t make his way past before the checkered waved, and finished the event in fourth place.
Peck would like to thank Dura Coat Products, Stanton Racing Engines, Factory Kahne, DRC Chassis, Simpson Race Products, Lucas Oil, Keizer Wheels, Hoosier Racing Tire, Saldana Racing Products, Thomas Railroad Construction, Pit Stop BBQ & Grill, Kwik Change Products, and Spider Graphix, as well as his parents, crew, and all of his fans for their continued support.
Peck is next scheduled to compete on May 20 at Fayette County Speedway in Brownstown, Ill. and on May 21 at Macon (Ill.) Speedway, both with the POWRi National Midget Series in the No. 5X midget entry.
Quick Results
May 6 – Grain Valley, MO – Midget – Heat: 1st (2); Feature: 19th (5)
May 7 – Wheatland, MO – Midget – Heat: 3rd (3); Feature: 4th (14)
2016 Stats
9 races, 9 features, 0 wins, 1 podium, 5 top-fives, 5 top-tens, 0 DNFs
Social Media
Website: http://www.justinpeckracing.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/justinpeckracing
Twitter: http://twitter.com/justin_peck5
Instagram: http://instagram.com/justin_peck5
Article Credit: Redbeard Promotions
