Terry Cook, Power Stroke Diesel by International Race Team Wrap Up Two-Day Test in Sponsor’s Backyard
 
(JOLIET, Ill.) – Terry Cook and the No. 10 Power Stroke Diesel by International race team wrapped up their two-day test session Tuesday afternoon at Chicagoland Speedway.  Cook and the team used Monday and Tuesday to test aerodynamics to the No. 10 Power Stroke Diesel by International Ford in preparation for up-coming races in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) after inclement weather limited the team’s one-day test session last month at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
 
“Yet another great test for the Power Stroke Diesel by International race team,” said Cook.  “Chicagoland Speedway offers a lot of grip on the race track but we mainly tested over the two days on aerodynamics and learned what the truck needed to go fast.  We used this test for a host of tracks we go to on the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series schedule; Michigan, Texas, Lowe’s, to understand what the truck needs at each track.  It was a very good test and we could apply what we learned over the last two days to any race track we have on the schedule a mile-and-a-half and longer.”
 
Looking at the remaining NCTS schedule, Monday and Tuesday’s test offered a way to prepare for a host of up-coming races that include the following:
 
May 20 – Lowe’s Motor Speedway, 1.5 miles in length
June 10 – Texas Motor Speedway, 1.5 miles
June 18 – Michigan International Speedway, two miles
July 2 – Kansas Speedway, 1.5 miles
July 9 – Kentucky Speedway, 1.5 miles
Sept. 24 – Las Vegas Motor Speedway, 1.5 miles
Oct. 29 – Atlanta Motor Speedway, 1.5 miles
Nov. 4 – Texas Motor Speedway, 1.5 miles
Nov. 18 – Homestead-Miami Speedway, 1.5 miles
 
 
The next NCTS race is at Mansfield Motorsports Speedway, the shortest track on the 2005 schedule.  Last year’s inaugural race was Cook’s best-career finish in 2004, a third in his home state of Ohio.  For now, Cook and the team head back to the Mooresville, N.C. race shop and prepare for Mansfield.
 
“Any test that turns out good for the team will build confidence,” said Cook.  “It gets us that much closer to reaching Victory Lane.  We started off this year with a new crew chief and new crew so we’re still in the learning phase after a handful of races.  The more laps we make, the more we come together as a team.  Testing is like running another race weekend.  When you test for eight hours for two consecutive days, it’s like the team goes through another race weekend and that helps to excel our program.”