Ford PSD by Int'l Advance Notes - Daytona
Contact: Jeffrey J. Sturek, Ford Power Stroke Diesel by International Racing, (704) 450-9060, jeffrey@gperformance.com Terry Cook No. 10 Ford Power Stroke Diesel by International GM Flex Fuel 250 / Daytona International Speedway - Friday, Feb. 17, 2006 COOK A LEADER IN TRUCK RACING AT DAYTONA: ~ Only driver to lead at least one lap in every NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) race at Daytona International Speedway (DIS); total laps led: 44 ~ Cook has five top-10 finishes in six starts at DIS with an average start and finish of 14.3 and 8.3 ~ New To The Team: Dennis Connor is the team's crew chief. He has three NCTS championships to his name (1997, '99 and 2001) and twice was runner-up (1996, '98). Tony Hirshman (spotter) is the son of five-time NASCAR Whelen Modified champion, Tony Sr. Hirshman has spotted since 1994 in modifieds, open-wheel and stock car racing. 2005 marks his first year spotting in the NCTS. Finally, Nicole Addison (rear tire changer) is the only female over-the-wall crew member in NASCAR's top-three divisions. This is her second year in the NCTS ~ Local Angle: Steve Rasmussen (shock specialist) grew up in Orlando and Eric Duncan (welder) is from Orange City, Fla. COOK AT DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY: DATE START FINISH STATUS EARNINGS 02/18/05 12 20 Accident $16,040 02/13/04 1 5 Running $23,600 02/14/03 5 9 Running $17,150 02/15/02 20 6 Running $20,150 02/16/01 16 6 Running $18,550 02/18/00 32 4 Running $27,602 COOK ON THE ADDITION OF CHAMPIONSHIP CREW CHIEF, DENNIS CONNOR: "What more is there to be said, three-time champion, Dennis Connor. He was twice runner-up. The guy's got numerous wins, championships and poles under his belt and to come in and be a leader of our Power Stroke Diesel race team is just an honor to just even have him and an honor for him to even accept the position. The biggest thing he's shown us so far early on is to take advantage of the resources that not only ppc Racing but Ford Racing has to offer, prepare the truck to its fullest and make sure before we push out the door that its ready to compete and compete in the top 10 week in and week out. We look forward to going to Daytona." CONNOR ON JOINING ppc RACING: "I'm very excited to be here at ppc Racing. There are a lot of tools, technologies and resources available to us to use here. I look forward to making the team better than last year. One of the more important facets of a team working is the communication between the driver and the crew chief. Terry and I have spent a lot of time over the off season since I went to work here to getting to know one another. We've only had one test but I really think we are on the same page and we'll get in tune real quick." MEET THE NO. 10 FORD POWER STROKE DIESEL BY INTERNATIONAL RACE TEAM . . . Nicole Addison, Rear Tire Changer Marty Brice, Pit Support Jon Bruns, Rear Tire Carrier Bill Cahill, Second Can Gas Man Dennis Connor, Crew Chief Jeff Fleenor, Catch Can Cliff Graves, Shop Foreman Tony Hirshman, Spotter Jeff Kirkendall, Engineer Teresa Kirkendall, Scorer Ken Majors, Engine Tuner Greg Pollex, Truck Owner Jamie Price, Gas Man Steve Rasmussen, Shock Specialist Brian Scanlon, Mechanic Kenneth Purcell, Jack Man Shaun Wheeler, Front Tire Carrier Tim Whitaker, Front Tire Changer / Truck Chief ppc RACING HISTORY NOTES AT DAYTONA: ~ Team Owner, Greg Pollex has started at least one NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, Busch and Craftsman Truck Series race at DIS; best finish was in NBS competition - fourth in 2001 with driver Jeff Green ~ ppc Racing has pole position earned at DIS. It happened in the 2004 NCTS race with Cook and marked the first time in series competition a first-year team earns a pole in first competitive race ~ Memorable Moment: Green flips in the tri-oval early on in the 2000 NBS race and finishes 42nd. However, Green goes on to win the championship over teammate, Jason Keller by more than 500 points in ppc Racing's inaugural season. It is the only time a NBS team has gone 1-2 in the points in the series' 24-year history ###