Tarheel Tiger Flawless during Southern Regional Racing Series Event at the Mountain
By Chris Tilley
MARYVILLE, TN (April 12, 2008)—The word ‘Flawless’ is used to describe Ray Cook’s performance during the PPM Racing Products Southern Regional Racing Series stop at the Mountain Raceway Park in Maryville, TN on Saturday April 12, 2008.
Cook transferred to the main event through Qualifying, started from the outside pole position and led all 50 laps in route to the win in front of a packed house.
The Brasstown, NC driver collected $3,000 for his fourth career Series victory. Cook’s Grover Racing Engines, MasterSbilt Race Car is sponsored by Fairway Ford, Jacky Jones Automotive, Arvil Cook Property Investments, Youngblood Concrete, Bill Elliott Racing, Hamrick’s of Gaffney, James Cook Construction, PPM Racing Products, A-Plus Moving and Storage, and Engines Inc.
The 2007 Mountain Raceway Champion Bobby Giffin, along with outside polesitter Cook brought the field of 24 to Lynn Palmer’s Green Flag for the start of the 50-Lap main. Cook had the commanding lead into turn one but the caution would wave before the first lap was complete as Mike Hill went around in turn two, collecting Chris Wilson first along with seven other drivers. The red flag was displayed momentarily while track crews scrambled to recover the injured cars.
When the race was then restarted a second time, Cook got the jump from the start and led the field down for the first circuit with East-Tennessee drivers Anthony White, Giffin, Billy Ogle Jr. and Vic Hill in tow.
The yellow flag would once again wave on lap three as Billy Ogle Jr. got sideways and went around in turn one. At this point, Ogle was running fifth, but after spinning sent him to the tail, Tommy Kerr had now moved into that position.
The caution would also come out on the eighth lap for Michael Luna brushing the turn-two wall. Mark Vineyard, who had started in the 12th position, had already moved his way into the sixth position using the outside line to his advantage. Rick Rogers had also tried to pull out from the line and go with Vineyard but couldn’t get his car to stick as well up on the high line.
The caution would come back out again on the 11th circuit for Chris Wilson slowing in turn-two with mechanical woes.
Lapped cars would start to surface for leader Ray Cook on the 20th circuit with Mike Luna going a lap down first, then Cook who had almost tangled with the lapped car of Brett Wyatt on the 22nd circuit while trying to pass, stretched his lead to a half straightaway by the half-way point in the event.
Mark Douglas and Joe Denby would collide in turn two on the 26th lap bringing out the caution again.
Just as Denby collected with Douglas a few laps earlier, he again got collected in turn two, this time with John Gill and 31 circuits officially scored.
The final caution of the night would wave on the 42nd lap as second place runner Anthony White slowed on the front-straight with mechanical problems for the 3-time and defending Advance Auto Parts Thunder Series Champion.
Ray Cook would lead the field back down to the green flag for the remaining eight laps with Giffin, Vic Hill, Kerr and Vineyard the top-five. Cook would cross the line 10-car lengths ahead of Giffin for the win.
Official Summary of Results:
PPM Racing Products Southern Regional Racing Series
Mountain Raceway Park (Maryville, TN)
Saturday April 12, 2008
A-Main Finish:
1. Ray Cook-Brasstown, NC
2. Bobby Giffin-Maryville, TN
3. Vic Hill-Mosheim, TN
4. Tommy Kerr-Maryville, TN
5. Mark Vineyard-Powell, TN
6. Rick Rogers-Knoxville, TN
7. Tony Morris-Murfreesboro, TN
8. Riley Hickman-Cleveland, TN
9. Kelly Hanvey-Cullman, AL
10. Brett Wyatt-Crossville, TN
11. Brandon King-Decatur, AL
12. Mike Luna-Sparta, TN
13. Anthony White-Clinton, TN
14. Joe Denby-Tullahoma, TN
15. Jay Brinkley-Raus, TN
16. John Gill-Mitchell, IN
17. Billy Mayo-Cleveland, TN
18. Mike Weeks-Friendsville, TN
19. Mark Douglas-Knoxville, TN
20. Billy Ogle Jr.-Knoxville, TN
21. Chris Wilson-Louisa, KY
22. Michael Luna-Sparta, TN
23. David Crabtree-Maryville, TN
24. Mike Hill-Rockwood, TN
Entries: 51 among five states
Star Graphix Overall Fast Time: Bobby Giffin-18:01 seconds
Heat Winners: Mike Weeks, Mark Vineyard, Brandon King, Michael Luna, Tony Morris
B-Main Winners: Billy Mayo and Kelly Hanvey
Series Provisional Starters: Riley Hickman and Mike Luna
DBR Performance Starters 12th Place Award: Mike Luna
Brinkley Farms 10th Place Award: Brett Wyatt
