7/20/2016
Peck Working Through Hot Summer With POWRi Success
(Photo by Allen Horcher)
FAIRBURY, Ill. – Making several stops on the POWRi National Midget tour through late June and early July, Justin Peck is making a strong case for the series championship with plenty of races left to cover his points deficit. Over that stretch, he has padded his effort with three finishes of sixth or better.
After a second foray into winged 305ci sprint car action where he finished in sixth and 12th on back-to-back nights in Pennsylvania, Peck returned to the Midwest to compete in POWRi’s “Race Around the Arch” weekend, with events on each side of the Mississippi River. June 24’s event at Belle-Clair Speedway in Belleville, Ill. was a warm welcome back for the young gasser at a facility he has performed well at numerous times in the past. The success there continued on that night, as a heat race victory paved the way for a fifth-place effort in the night’s 30-lap main event.
Up next was the second leg of the weekend, this time west of the river in Farmington, Mo.’s St. Francois County Raceway. There, Peck again made strides to gain ground in the points tally. A fourth-place run was the result on the night, leading into one of the most sought-after events on the schedule the following weekend.
Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie, Wis. was the next track set to host the stars of the POWRi tour. The third-mile speedway, steeped in lore, was hosting the “Pepsi Nationals” for the 35th time on July 3. Though Peck carried in a less-than-favorable past at the track, he kept positive and primed to go for another night of action. A spectacular heat race run from outside row three into a runner-up finish put Peck and his Toyota-powered DRC Chassis on the pole for the main event. Lady Luck would ultimately fight against him on this night, however, and a flat tire cost him while battling for the lead. With only a handful of laps remaining, Peck could only charge back to the 14th position.
Another Belleville event last Friday gave Peck the opportunity to rebound. Another special event, the “Knepper Memorial,” was the occasion. A great show was put on for the lead in Peck’s heat race, so Peck quietly snuck up to finish third. Though only starting 11th for the main event, Peck managed to use the high side with precision en route to a sixth-place result.
The series’ lone trip of the season to Fairbury American Legion Speedway, colloquially called “FALS,” came one night later. From a heat race pole, Peck was unable to hold off series point leader and two-time defending champion Zach Daum for the win, but settled in for second. This would prove to be another night where luck would just not be on Peck’s side, however. Starting from eighth, Peck quickly rallied into the top five. Halfway through the event, second-place Tanner Thorson clipped the outside wall and flipped in turn one. Peck had nowhere to go, and made contact with Thorson’s machine. Damage to the No. 5X was ultimately too much to continue on, and what looked like a great points night turned sour with a 19th-place scoring.
“We had a few good runs lately, and I hoped we could keep it going,” Peck said dejectedly. “Tonight just wasn’t our night, I guess.”
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 August 5 and 6 at the “Ironman 55” at I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Mo. with the POWRi National Midget Series in the No. 5x midget entry.
Quick Results
June 24 – Belleville, IL – Midget – Heat: 1st (2); Feature: 5th (2)
June 25 – Farmington, MO – Midget – Heat: 3rd (4); Feature: 4th (5)
July 3 – Sun Prairie, WI – Midget – Heat: 2nd (6); Feature: 14th (1)
July 15 – Belleville, IL – Midget – Heat: 3rd (5); Feature: 6th (11)
July 16 – Fairbury, IL – Midget – Heat: 2nd (1); Feature: 19th (8)
2016 Stats
30 races, 29 features, 0 wins, 3 podiums, 10 top-fives, 15 top-tens, 7 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
