FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

January 5, 2016

Ray Cook Starts 2016 with Crate Late Model Triumph in Hangover at 411!

(BRASSTOWN, NORTH CAROLINA) Ray Cook recorded his first feature win of the 2016 racing season in his lid lifter on Friday, January 1 during the sixth edition of the 'Hangover' at 411 Motor Speedway in Seymour, Tennessee! Behind the wheel of his #53 Crate Late Model, Ray clicked off the quickest time of the 49 competitors in attendance during qualifying to earn the pole position for the 25-lap main event. During the course of the headliner, Ray grabbed the point with a nice move on the fifth circuit and never looked back in registering the $1,500 payday over John Ownbey, Tom Maddox, Matt Henderson, and Rusty Ballenger!

In Super Late Model action, Ray posted the fastest lap in Group A during the time trial session, which also landed him on the pole of the $4,000 to win unsanctioned special. The Brasstown, North Carolina star ran second in the early stages of the 40-lapper, but got into the wall at one point and bent the right front suspension. Ray eventually slipped back to fourth before winding up in the third finishing position behind only victor Donald McIntosh and runner-up Jason Hiett. Complete results from the 'Hangover' program can be viewed online at www.411motorspeedway.net.

“It was a good season opener for us – especially getting the win in the Crate car,” exclaimed Cook this week via telephone. “I have to thank H.C. and Marcie Pritchard with Motion Sensors and Possum Quarter Farms for their support, especially with our Crate Late Model program. The car was fast all day and it feels great to get that first win under our belt for the year. In our Super Late Model, we just made a couple of bad decisions that hurt us in the feature, but it was still a good run. We will get everything back together this week at the shop and gear up for the Ice Bowl next weekend.”

The popular driver known as the “Tarheel Tiger” will once again pull double duty from January 7-10 in the 2016 edition of the ‘Ice Bowl’ at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, Alabama. After open practice sessions on Thursday and Friday, qualifying and heat races are scheduled for Saturday, while consolation events and the features will be held on Sunday. Ray will vie for the $6,000 top prize in the Super Late Model division and the $3,000 paycheck with the NeSmith (Crate) Dirt Late Model Series. He has enjoyed a myriad of success during ‘Ice Bowl’ weekend recently, as Ray reached Super Late Model victory lane back in 2009 and 2012 and won in a Crate Late Model in 2014. Additional information on the huge weekend at TST can be located by pointing your web browser to www.talladegashorttrack.com.

Ray Cook Racing would like to thank the following group of sponsors for their continued support: A+ Moving and Storage, Tommy Pope Construction, Phillips Properties, Motion Sensors, Possum Quarter Farms, American Racer South, Capital Race Cars, VP Racing Fuels, Jay D1ckens Racing Engines, Schaeffer’s Racing Oil, Old Man’s Garage, K&N Filters, Performance Rod & Custom (PRC), Collins Signs, Wilwood Engineering, The Joie of Seating, Integra Racing Shocks, GW Performance, Bert Transmissions, Turbo Start Batteries, Frankland Racing Supply, Stealth Carburetors, ISC Racer’s Tape, Delph Communications, Wiles Driveshafts, Peterson Fluid Systems, and MSD Ignition.

For the latest news and schedule information concerning the #53 team, feel free to visit their official Internet home at www.RayCook53.com.

Media Contact: Ryan Delph - Delph Communications
www.DelphCommunications.com