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2013 Daytona: Red Horse Racing NASCAR Truck Race Preview
John Wes Townley
No. 7 Zaxby's Toyota Tundra
-No Previous Truck Starts-
ARCA Series Starts: 4 Wins: 1 (2013) Poles: 1 (2013)
Top Five: 3 Top-10: 3 Avg. Finish: 4.8
Chassis: 011
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The 2013 NASCAR Camping World Truck Season is one that Red Horse Racing driver John Wes Townley is eager to begin. The 23-year-old will enter his first full-time season behind the wheel of the No. 7 Zaxby's Toyota Tundra with Red Horse Racing. Though the NextEra Energy Resources 250 will be Townley's debut in a truck at Daytona International Speedway, he has track experience in the Nationwide Series and the ARCA Racing Series to back him up.
Just last week, Townley captured his first win in ARCA leading the final nine laps at Daytona. Townley started the race from the pole position and never fell below the third position for the entire 80-lap race. In just four starts, Townley has earned three top-five and three top-10 finishes with an average finish of 4.8. His worst finish at the speedway is 11th. With veteran crew chief Mike Beam atop the pit box, Townley is looking to go back-to-back at the 2.5-mile speedway.
ZAXBY'S: Zaxby's has been indescribably good for over 20 years. John Wes Townley will compete with Zaxby's serving as primary sponsor for the entire 22 Truck Series race schedule. With over 565 locations in 13 states, Zaxby's offers an alternative to fast food with prepared-at-order Chicken Fingerz, Traditional or Boneless Wings, sandwiches, Zalads, and Zappetizers. The Athens, GA based chain also provides a variety of sauces ranging from Wimpy and Tongue Torch to Nuclear and Insane. For more information, please visit Zaxbys.com, Facebook.com/Zaxbys or follow on Twitter @Zaxbys.
CHASSIS HISTORY: The No. 7 Zaxby's Toyota Tundra will run newly built chassis No. 011 at Daytona International Speedway. During the off season, the team was able to test this chassis at the wind tunnel.
John Wes Townley talks about Daytona International Speedway:
How big of a confidence lift does your win in ARCA last weekend carry to this weekend in the Truck race?
"It's huge. I know there is a big difference from the cars to the trucks, but as far as confidence goes, it's a priceless thing. I couldn't be happier. Going into the race next weekend, you just have to be smart and wait it out till the end. That's when everything counts. We will go into it carrying momentum and I have all the confidence in the world with my team, Mike Beam and Chris Lambert (spotter). I think it's all going to come together this weekend and I hope it does."
What does Daytona mean to you as a driver?
"I feel like I have to approach this race like every other race. It does have added pressure, especially after winning the Daytona ARCA race a few days ago. It's a big deal, a big track. But, starting out with a new team you want to go out there and have expectations that are attainable. The main goal is to go out there, get your bearings and get the truck season off to a good start. If we get an opportunity to go for the win, we'll take it."
Timothy Peters
No. 17 Parts Plus Toyota Tundra
Starts: 5 Wins: 1 (2010)
Top Five: 2 Top-10: 3 Avg. Finish: 6.4 Laps Led: 17
Chassis: 108
READY TO CONQUER, AGAIN: After finishing second at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway in February last year and ending the 2012 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series points standings in the runner-up position, Timothy Peters and his No. 17 Parts Plus Toyota Tundra are ready to be up front and number one. Peters is anxious to get back on track, especially at a track where he claimed victory in 2010.
Although superspeedway racing is known for the unknown, that's not the case for Peters, who has shown remarkable consistency in five starts garnering two top-five and three top-10 finishes. His worst finish at the 2.5-mile tri-oval is 12th, which he collected in his debut at the track in 2006. As a testimony to Peters' considerable driving skills, he has completed 100% of laps and led for 17 of them. With a record like this, Peters is an odds-on favorite to take Red Horse Racing to the winner's circle at Daytona International Speedway this Friday.
NEW FATHER: During the off season, Timothy and his wife, Sara, welcomed their first child, Brantley Tony Peters, into the world. Brantley was born on December 17th weighing 8 pounds 1 ounce and measuring 21 ¾ inches long. The new family is doing well.
ON THE PLUS: Parts Plus will serve as primary sponsor for Timothy Peters and the No. 17 Toyota Tundra at Daytona International Speedway. The Memphis-based warehouse distributor originated more than 56 years ago tracing back to a series of jobber programs. Since 2005, Parts Plus has been a member of the Automotive Distribution Network that has over 300 member distributors under five brand names and from over 400 separate warehouses across the United States, Mexico, Canada and Puerto Rico. For more information on Parts Plus and locations near you, visit PartsPlus.com.
CHASSIS HISTORY: The No. 17 Parts Plus Toyota Tundra will utilize chassis No. 108 at Daytona International Speedway. In 2012, chassis 108 finished fifth at Talladega Superspeedway and second in February at Daytona with Peters behind the wheel. Peters finished 11th at Daytona in 2011.
Timothy Peters talks about Daytona International Speedway:
Talk about your anticipation for 2013 and kicking off the year at Daytona.
"It's always cool to go to Daytona and kick off the new year, especially after the season we had last year. I feel like that's a ton of motivation for our team to improve one spot in the championship standings.
"We have a win and a second at Daytona, so I know we have a good speedway program and it gives you confidence heading into the first race of the season."
What does Daytona mean to you as a driver?
"I think what makes it special for me is when you combine the history of the place, the success we've had there and the fact that it's the first race of the season. The anticipation stored up in the off season adds to the excitement of being at the race track, starting a new year, trying to improve on what you did before. Experiencing success at that historic location just makes it kind of sentimental when you go back."
Germán Quiroga
No. 77 NET10 Wireless Toyota Tundra
-No Previous Starts-
Chassis: 012
QUIROGA AND NET10 WIRELESS JOIN RED HORSE RACING: The 2013 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Rookie of the Year title is what Germán Quiroga is aiming to earn by season's end. The Mexico City, Mexico native will enter in only his seventh Truck Series event behind the wheel of the No. 77 NET10 Wireless Toyota Tundra for Red Horse Racing at the 2.5-mile high banks of Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway for the NextEra Energy Resources 250. Quiroga will pair with crew chief Dan Stillman for the 2013 Truck Series schedule.
Quiroga got his first experience in Superspeedway racing in 2012 when he competed in the Truck Series race at Talladega Superspeedway in October. The 32-year-old driver collected his first top-10 finish, with a career-high eighth-place finish.
NET10 WIRELESS: NET10 Wireless will join Quiroga at Red Horse Racing as primary sponsor of the No. 77 Toyota Tundra for (12) races this season. The no contract cell phone leader will remain as associate sponsor for the remaining 10 races. For more information on NET10 Wireless visit www.NET10Wireless.com.
CHASSIS HISTORY: The No. 77 team will race at Daytona International Speedway with chassis No. 012. Brand new to the Red Horse Racing stable, Quiroga and chassis No. 012 will both make their debut during practice on Thursday.
Germán Quiroga talks about Daytona International Speedway:
What are your expectations as a competitor racing at Daytona for the very first time?
"This is the year that we have to get results and achieve goals. For sure, one of the first goals is to finish all the races. In order to win, first you have to finish. I understand Superspeedways are very hard and you can't program yourself to what's going to happen. You have to be patient; I was able to learn that at Talladega. It was my first top-10 finish in a NASCAR sanctioned event. Instead of a top-10 finish, I am looking for a top-five finish and obviously a win.
"I am with the right team and the right equipment. When you have all the right pieces, results come easy. We are going to focus on being patient in the race and ultimately trying to be in the right position within the final 10 laps and hope for a good result."
When you think of Daytona, what does it mean to you?
"It's one of the tracks that I want to win on. I went to the Rolex 24 at Daytona and just to be there is amazing. Everyone is very focused obviously. It's the biggest race of the year, so everyone has a lot of anticipation to get on track. For me, new driver, new team, this is what the season is going to be about."
PaddockTalk Perspective
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