8/24/2016
Peck Garners Four Straight Top-Ten Finishes in POWRi Action
(Photo by Dean Yoder)
MACON, Ill. – A strong month of action in August is just what the doctor ordered to bring Justin Peck’s campaign for the POWRi National Midget Crown back to life. Two consecutive nights of perseverance at I-55 Raceway, paired with a weekend of great runs in central Illinois have moved the rising star back into the fourth position in the season points battle, with five events remaining to try to close the gap for the points lead.
Kicking off August alongside the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars at the incredibly fast I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Mo., Peck actually fought off hardship early on in both nights to salvage top-ten efforts. The “Ironman 55” has become a hot item on the schedules of racers and spectators alike across the country, and they received a treat in the POWRi midgets that weekend. A broken front axle early in the Friday night preliminary show put the Peck Motorsports team behind the ball with an eighth-place heat race scoring. However, the run in the feature race was an impressive one, as Peck threw caution to the wind, rallying forward 14 positions in the 30-lapper to finish in fourth.
Heat race action would again test the toughness of the No. 5x driver and crew, as seventh was all the machine was able to muster after starting eighth. Starting on the 12th and final row on the grid in the 23rd position, Peck again put on a passing clinic. With several cautions to slow down the action, Peck gained positions left and right, making his move into the top ten with two laps remaining, and ended up tenth.
“I hate that we had trouble early on both nights this weekend, but you can’t keep us down,” Peck said of his team. “We always fight back.”
After an off-weekend, the team returned to action at Lincoln (Ill.) Speedway on Friday night and Macon (Ill.) Speedway on Saturday night. Fortunately, “fighting back” wouldn’t be necessary on either occasion. At Lincoln, though nearly capturing a heat race victory away from reigning National Midget Driver of the Year Tanner Thorson, Peck followed him to the line in second. Later in the main event, the track wouldn’t offer much for passing, as one groove around the low line was the preferred lane. In all, Peck advanced one position, from eighth to seventh.
Saturday at Macon, the racing was much more intense. After a phenomenal charge from eighth to third in his heat race, Peck was slated to start on the front row of the 30-lap nightcap. There, the tight fifth-mile oval saw some of the best racing action POWRi has hosted all season. Peck, along with point leader Zach Daum, Thorson, and two of Thorson’s Keith Kunz Motorsports teammates battled feverishly for the duration of the event. All five drivers pushed their Toyota engines to the max; ultimately, Peck would come home in the fifth position, making Toyota Racing Development the engine manufacturer for the top seven finishers on the night. “These Toyota powerplants really get it,” Peck assured. “What a great night for them. I think we had a little more left in the tank, but the brakes started to go away. This DRC was bad fast.”
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 September 3 at Montpelier (Ind.) Motor Speedway in the Kenny Irwin’s No. 7K midget entry.
Quick Results
August 5 – Pevely, MO – Midget – Heat: 7th (8); Feature: 4th (18)
August 6 – Pevely, MO – Midget – Heat: 8th (5); Feature: 10th (23)
August 19 – Lincoln, IL – Midget – Heat: 2nd (1); Feature: 7th (8)
August 20 – Macon, IL – Midget – Heat: 2nd (8); Feature: 5th (2)
2016 Stats
34 races, 33 features, 0 wins, 3 podiums, 12 top-fives, 19 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
