Power Stroke Diesel by International / Terry Cook Pre-Race Report – Daytona

Event: Florida Dodge Dealers 250 – NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
Track: Daytona International Speedway, 2.5-mile tri-oval
Date / Time: Friday, Feb. 18th / 8:30 p.m. EST
TV: SPEED Channel, 8 p.m. EST
Radio: MRN Radio, 7:30 p.m. (check local listings)
Internet: www.nascar.com (paid access required) and www.truckseries.com

Summary . . .
Terry Cook and the ppc Racing team kick off their second NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season at Daytona International Speedway on February 18th. Last year’s debut had the competition shaking after Cook took the pole position and led the race in its early stages. Now, in 2005, Cook has a new look, a new crew chief and the raging desire like no other driver to return to Victory Lane. Will Cook and the ppc Racing team have the competition shaking again in ‘05?

Where is the Simulator? . . .
The Power Stroke Diesel by International simulator will be at Thursday’s Craftsman Autograph Session at the Volusia County Mall in Daytona Beach, Fla. The mall, located across from Daytona International Speedway, is expected to draw in thousands of race fans as they head to the speedway for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series’ Twin 125s. Terry Cook will sign autographs at 11 a.m. with local Paws With A Cause staff in attendance. Cook and the simulator will return on race day, Friday, Feb. 18th with Cook signing autographs at 12:30 p.m.

Points of Interest . . .
Defending the Pole: Terry Cook won the pole last year after taking just five practice laps. It was his first superspeedway pole en route to a fifth-place finish to kick off the season. Qualifying this year will take place Wednesday night with Bud Pole qualifying beginning at 7 p.m. EST

Cook is the Master at Daytona: Terry Cook knows how to get around Daytona International Speedway. His top-10 performances in every Florida Dodge Dealers 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) event makes this new father a contender to win. Can he make it six in a row top-10 finishes?

A “Power”ful New Look: Terry Cook has a new look in 2005. Gone are the traditional red and black colors of Power Stroke Diesel by International. They are replaced with a bright yellow No. 10 Ford and can be easily seen around the race track. The question becomes . . . can the competition keep up with Cook on the track?

A New Crew Chief: Rick Gay joins ppc Racing as Terry Cook’s crew chief in 2005. Gay has been a crew chief in NASCAR since 1999 and spent last year the NCTS with a new manufacturer

A New Father: Terry Cook became a new father on December 3rd when wife Amy East gave birth to a boy. Cody Robert Cook will make his first NCTS race at Daytona International Speedway, a tradition that has continued through the Cook Family generation

Quotes . . .
“I’ve been fortunate to run extremely well at Daytona every year. Last year was my very first race with ppc Racing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. To come right out of the box and sit on the pole at a track like Daytona was huge. We finished fifth and felt like we had a better truck than fifth place but to go to Daytona, sit on the pole and be competitive throughout the entire race and have a fast truck was a tribute to the hard work the ppc Racing team put in all winter long.” – Terry Cook, driver, No. 10 Power Stroke Diesel by International Ford

“I’m very accustom to being a crew chief in NASCAR and feel like I’m where I need to be at this point in my career. I feel the relationships between Terry, ppc Racing and I have come out quite well thus far. Everybody is looking for results in 2005 and I feel like I can bring some things to the table that were missing here last year to help the whole Ford Racing program.” – Rick Gay, crew chief, No. 10 Power Stroke Diesel by International Ford

Terry Cook at Daytona International Speedway . . .

Year Start Finish Laps Completed Race Status
2004 1 5 100 / 100 Running
2003 5 9 100 / 100 Running
2002 20 6 100 / 100 Running
2001 16 6 104 / 104 Running
2000 32 4 100 / 100 Running

Meet the Crew . . .
Jon Bruns, Rear Tire Carrier
David Cropps, Rear Tire Changer
Rick Gay, Crew Chief
Jamie Price, Gas Man
Kenneth Purcell, Jack Man
Shaun Wheeler, Front Tire Carrier
Tim Whitaker, Front Tire Changer