Terry Cook, Wes Ward Combination Produce Top-15 Finish for Ford Power Stroke Diesel by International

 (AVONDALE, Ariz.) – Terry Cook finished 14th in Friday’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event at Phoenix International Raceway.  Cook, driving the No. 10 Ford Power Stroke Diesel by International race truck, once again saw Crew Chief, Wes Ward lead the ppc Racing crew.  Ward was named crew chief for the remainder of the year with Cook earlier in the week as he and Cook battled with a tight-handling race truck and a tough race.

 “It was an aggressive race today,” said Cook, who avoided a late-race incident in turn two.  “The track got real slick there at the end and everybody was just sliding around.  Wes Ward and the entire Ford Power Stroke Diesel team went to work and we just kept working on it.  We got the truck better but we never got it great.”

Cook began 29th, unfamiliar territory for the eight-time pole winner as he held his position the first 50 laps.  Cook made several pit stops during that time, making various adjustments to improve the handling of the truck and cracked the top 20 just before the halfway point.

With under 30 laps to go, Cook headed into turn one when several other competitors began spinning in turn two.  Cook narrowly avoided the incident, going high then low with the guidance from spotter, Keith Barnwell.  Cook came to pit road under the caution flag to have the right-side tires looked at by the ppc Racing crew for any damage.  Luckily, Cook escaped without flat-spotting the tires and returned to the race with just 20 laps to go.

Cook would battle hard each of the remaining green-flag laps to finish 14th, the same position Cook finished at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, with Ward as crew chief with the No. 10 Ford Power Stroke Diesel by International race truck.

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series heads next week to Darlington Raceway, where for the first time in the track’s history, an event will be held under the lights.  Live coverage begins at 8 p.m. EST on SPEED.

 

About International Truck and Engine Corp. . . .

International Truck and Engine Corporation is the operating company of Navistar International Corporation (NYSE: NAV).  International Truck and Engine is a leading producer of mid-range diesel engines, medium trucks, heavy trucks, severe service vehicles, bus chassis and a provider of parts and service sold under the International brand.  The company also is a private label designer and manufacturer of diesel engines for the pickup truck, van and SUV markets.  Additionally, through a joint venture with Ford Motor Company, the company will build medium commercial trucks and currently sells truck and diesel engine service parts.  A subsidiary, IC Corporation, produces integrated school buses.  International Truck and Engine has the broadest distribution network in the industry.  Financing for customers and dealers is provided through a wholly owned subsidiary of Navistar.  Additional information can be found on the company’s Web site at www.internationaldelivers.com.

 

About ppc Racing . . .

Based in Mooresville, N.C., ppc Racing entered its first season of competition in the 2004 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.  Now with the addition of the No. 14 VB / APlus at Sunoco Ford Taurus with driver John Andretti in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, co-owners Greg Pollex and Keith Barnwell become only the second team to field fulltime entries in NASCAR’s top-three series.  For more information, please visit www.ppcracing.com.