Kentucky Speedway/Sparta, Kentucky/July 14, 2007
Started 12th / Finished 32nd
ACCIDENT FOILS SHEPHERD'S RUN AT KENTUCKY
Peter Shepherd, No. 50 Northern Tool + Equipment Ford F-150
SPARTA, Kentucky (July 15, 2007) - Peter Shepherd headed to Kentucky Speedway full of optimism and excitement. He left with a very different feeling, wondering where things went wrong. An early wreck ruined Shepherd's chances of backing up his strong finish at Memphis, the last time the series raced.
Shepherd posted the 12th fastest time in qualifying on Saturday afternoon, recording his best career qualifying effort to date. From the drop of the green flag, the No. 50 Northern Tool + Equipment Ford began to drop back in the field. Shepherd reported that he was having brake problems, and that he was taking things easy until he could feel out the problem. Shepherd showed 17th at lap 17, but dropped back to the 20th position by lap 23. Finally free of traffic, he was able to settle in and get a better assessment of his truck's mechanical problems.
Shepherd reported to the crew that he was extremely loose on entry into the corners, and that his handling difficulties might have been the problem he was feeling earlier in the run. As the crew began to discuss pit strategy, an incident between the Nos. 59 and 91 trucks occurred right in front of the No. 50, an accident that proved unavoidable for Shepherd. The Northern Tool + Equipment Ford suffered heavy damage, ending his race prematurely.
"It was just a chain reaction," said Shepherd of the wreck. "I hate it for the guys on this Northern Tool + Equipment team. We thought we had a good truck; we unloaded and came of the hauler and practiced pretty good. In race trim, we couldn't get a handle on it. Unfortunately, the 59 (Terry Cook), was coming up on, I think it was the 91, and kind of crammed down a little bit. It was no body's fault and but it got the 59 a real loose and he had to check-up and when he checked-up we were right there and just happened to get in the back of him. It's a bad break for us and them and everybody involved. I hate it for everybody."
The Craftsman Truck Series next competes at O'Reilly Raceway Park on Friday night, July 27.
Contact: Rory Connellan, Roush Fenway Racing
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