Ford PSD by Int'l Post-Race Report - Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS (September 23, 2006) - Terry Cook and the No. 10 Ford Power Stroke Diesel by International race team finished 16th in Saturday's NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (LVMS). Cook started at the rear of the field after spinning in qualifying on the newly reconfigured race track. Cook paced himself through the field and was as high as 13th but a lack of grip from the tires and a tight-handling condition prevented Cook finishing in the top 10.

"I don't know how many times we went to the back and worked our way back to the front," said Cook. "We had a decent truck but we just never really hit the handle right on. The Ford Power Stroke Diesel by International race team overcame a lot this weekend. We're definitely disappointed with our effort but after starting dead last and working our way back to the front, we'll take that and run to the house with it."

NCTS teams tested Friday afternoon and evening with ppc Racing bringing two trucks to figure out the new pavement at LVMS. Many of the drivers complained of the bumps in the track but as time passed, teams found speed and a second groove eventually in the race Saturday night.

After the test session, Crew Chief, Dennis Connor and the team decided to go with Truck No. 10-09, a truck that scored a top-10 finish at Michigan International Speedway. Cook clocked in top-30 speeds and found the handling of the truck to be stable and race ready, however, in qualifying, coming to take the green flag, Cook spun off Turn 4. Cook luckily saved the truck from hitting the wall but had to start 35th in the field.

At the drop of the green, Cook moved into the top 25 in just 30 laps. An early pit stop on Lap 26 gave Cook the needed adjustments and fresh tires to battle toward the front. Cook used the bottom groove to pass most of his competitors but a cut tire from Bobby Hamilton Jr. threw debris across the track and into the No. 10 Ford.

Cook pitted twice, first for four tires and fuel on Lap 53, then a lap later to assure the truck was without damage for the restart. Cook made two more pit stops on Laps 76 and 89 for tires and enough fuel to get to the finish. Afterward, Cook talked about the track after its first official race:

"Well, I think the track got better but the right-side tire was just too hard here," said Cook, who slips to 10th in the NCTS driver points standings. "We're not seeing any wear on it. A lot like Charlotte, it just didn't have the grip it needed. I'm really disappointed in that and surprised how rough the race track was for a new track. I think that this race facility will only get better as time progresses on. It's kind of like a fine wine, as the race track ages it will be better and we'll be racing higher up the race track. Tonight, I think we got pretty high, but I don't think the tires were matched perfectly for the racing surface."

Cook and the No. 10 Ford Power Stroke Diesel by International race team head to Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in two weeks for the Talladega 250 on Saturday, Oct. 7.