Terry Cook Shows Strong Performance at Kentucky Speedway with Ford Power Stroke Diesel by International

(SPARTA, Kent.) - Terry Cook appeared to be on his way to another top-five finish in the Ford Power Stroke Diesel by International truck at Kentucky Speedway Saturday night.  Cook ran most of the event in the top 10 until lap 139 when a right-rear tire went down, causing Cook to hit the turn four wall  Cook was uninjured in the one-truck incident and finished 30th.

"We drove ourselves from 13th all the way up to fourth there with about a handful of laps to go," said Cook.  "I thought we were in contention to at least have a solid top-five and hoping to be best in class for Ford.  I got side-by-side with Jon Wood there and we touched.  It's possible that we could have had a tire rub but it's hard to say.  The right-rear tire blew coming off of the corner and just got up in the fence."

Cook started 13th and made his first pit stop on lap 53, taking on four scuff tires and gasoline.  The Ford Power Stroke Diesel by International crew made several adjustments to the No. 10 Ford enabling Cook to reach the top 10 by lap 57.  One by one, Cook moved past the competition and returned to pit road under the fourth caution flag on lap 99.

The pit crew again made a fast pit stop with four tires and gasoline, picking up two positions on pit road to restart fifth.  Cook battled Jon Wood for fourth place and passed Wood with 27 laps to go.  The two drivers battled side-by-side, bumping and rubbing with Cook taking the advantage.

Cook was pulling away and was catching the leaders until the right-rear tire blew, sending Cook into the wall and ending his stellar performance.  Cook finished 30th and moves back to 15th in the driver points standings.

Cook and the Ford Power Stroke Diesel by International truck head to Gateway International Raceway next Saturday night, a track where Cook has visited Victory Lane before in 2002.

Based in Mooresville, N.C., ppc Racing enters its first season of competition in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with driver Terry Cook and the No. 10 Ford Power Stroke Diesel by International race team.  ppc Racing continues its competition in the NASCAR Busch Series, its fifth season, with driver Jason Keller in the No. 22 Miller High Life Ford Taurus.  With co-owners Greg Pollex and Keith Barnwell, ppc Racing earned the 2000 NASCAR Busch Series championship and has scored 27 wins and more than 150 top-five finishes as it enters the 2004 season.