The Tarheel Tiger Scorches the field!

[NC Ghost Hunter]

Fayetteville, North Carolina - Ray Cook took the final event of the Summer Sizzler mini tour on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. After finishing 13th the night before at Cherokee Speedway, Cook started on the pole and lead every lap. Ray's last win on the Lucas tour was in 2006 at Dixie Speedway. 32 drivers signed in to challenge the 4/10ths layout. It was a fitting end for the Summer Sizzler Tour, 100 degrees and 88% humidity.


Points leader Scott Bloomquist checking track conditions during qualifing.

For the second night in a row, Chris Ferguson wheeled his way to the PRC Fast time award. The 19 year old from Gastonia, North Carolina certainly raised alot of eyebrows among the tour drivers. The Carolina contingent already knew of this young man's ability to hustle his ride. Ferguson's spin of the wheel resulted in everyone standing pat with his spin of "1", no inversion. Ray Cook, Ricky Weeks, Ferguson and Dale McDowell all won their heats. Don O'Neal and Dan Schlieper won the B-Mains.


Dan Schlieper

The A-Main Found Cook on the inside and Ferguson on the outside of row one. One the start Weeks slid past Ferguson to take second. Earl Peason jr and McDowell rounded out the top five. With 7 in the books The caution flew for Timmy Blackwell. Cook bolted back out front on the restart with the top 5 holding suit. Steve Casebolt brought out the yellow at lap 26 with a blown shoe to bunch the field again.


PRC Fast Time setter Chris Ferguson

A total of 9 cautions slowed the event, including 5 in 8 laps between laps 32 and 40. Cook did an outstanding job on the restarts all night despite the heavy pressure applied by Weeks. The final caution would fly at lap 48 for Jonathon Davenport's cut tire, scrapping another good finish. That set up the second green, white, checker finish in as many nights. Yet again Weeks could not get by the "Tarheel Tiger" and Cook brought it home.


"The Tarheel Tiger" Ray Cook celebrating his $10,000 victory.
“First off I want to thank the Good Lord for a safe race and a happy father’s day to all the dads out there including mine, I want to thank all my sponsors, my car owners Danny Dishman and Ronald Ivey, MasterSbilt Race Cars, Race Engine Design, American Racer Tires, I was a little worried there with all the flats that were happening out there, the tires looked good after the race with the track the way it was I just kept my line out there and it paid off. I want to also thank Gary Winger of GW Performance, he’s helped us a lot with the shocks and thanks to all the fans for coming tonight as well,” said Cook.


Ricky Weeks
Weeks had his best career finish with the Lucas Oil Series. Ferguson was also had his best career finish in only his second ever start with the series. He also has set fast time in both starts.

RACE NOTES

PRC Fast Time: Chris Ferguson

Hawk Brake First Heat (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance): Ray Cook, Earl Pearson Jr., G.R. Smith, Scott Autry, Don O’Neal, Brad Neat, Freddy Smith, Justin Labonte
Hawk Brake Second Heat (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance): Ricky Weeks, Jonathan Davenport, Travis Hair, Jimmy Owens, Steve Casebolt, Josh McGuire, David Taylor, David Breazeale-DNS
AFCO Racing Products Third Heat (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance): Chris Ferguson, Chris Madden, Jeff Smith, John Blankenship, Dan Schlieper, Ed Basey, Timmy Blackwell, Zachary Cox-DNS
Tiger Rear Ends Fourth Heat (10 Laps-Top 4 Advance): Dale McDowell, Scott Bloomquist, Shawn Beasley, Craig Shuffield, Michael Mason, Dustin Mitchell, Roger Lucas, Michael Walker
Mason Racin’ Rebel Shock Dyno First B-Main (12 Laps- Top 3 Advance): Don O’Neal, Steve Casebolt, Brad Neat, Josh McGuire, David Taylor, Freddy Smith, Justin Labonte, David Breazeale
Wiles Drive Shafts Second B-Main (12 Laps-Top 3 Advance): Dan Schlieper, Ed Basey, Timmy Blackwell, Dustin Mitchell, Michael Mason, Roger Lucas, Zachary Cox, Michael Walker


Ferguson jumping the cushion on the start.

Finish (Start) Car Number Driver Name
1. (1) #53 Ray Cook
2. (3) #1W Ricky Weeks
3. (2) #22 Chris Ferguson
4. (5) #44 Earl Pearson Jr.
5. (6) #44M Chris Madden
6. (4) #17M Dale McDowell
7. (10 ) #18m Jeff Smith
8. (15) #20 Jimmy Owens
9. (17) #71 Don O’Neal
10. (19) #c9 Steve Casebolt
11. (8) #0 Scott Bloomquist
12. (12) #25 Shawn Beasley
13. (25) #14 David Taylor
14. (18) #s9 Dan Schlieper
15. (7) #6 Jonathan Davenport
16. (21) #41N Brad Neat
17. (16) #360 Craig Shuffield
18. (13) #1A Scott Autry
19. (14) #23 John Blankenship
20. (23) #41 Josh McGuire
21. (11) #27 Travis Hair
22. (9) #54H G.R. Smith
23. (24) #54 David Breazeale
24. (20) #4B Ed Basey
25. (22) #17 Timmy Blackwell


Earl Pearson Jr (l) and GR Smith chech out the track after the heats.
Race Statistics
Entries: 32
Caution Flags: Timmy Blackwell (Lap 7); G.R. Smith (Lap 15); Steve Casebolt (Lap 26); David Taylor (Lap 32); Shawn Beasley (Lap 36); John Blankenship (Lap 23); Dan Schlieper (Lap 39); Brad Neat (Lap 40); John Davenport (Lap 48)
Lap Leaders: Ray Cook (1-50)
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisionals: Josh McGuire, David Breazeale
PBM/Erson Cams Hard Charger of the Race: David Taylor
Allstar Performance Performer of the Race: Chris Madden
K&N Filters Clean Pass of the Race: Steve Casebolt
Quarter Master Rookie of the Race: John Blankenship
Comp Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Race Engine Design
Time of the Race: 42 minutes 34 seconds

2009 Championship Points Standings Top 10
1. Scott Bloomquist (Mooresburg, TN) 3350
2. Dale McDowell (Chickamauga, GA) 3015
3. Jimmy Owens (Newport, TN) 2985
4. Earl Pearson Jr. (Jacksonville, FL) 2965
5. Ray Cook (Brasstown, NC) 2940
6. Don O’Neal (Martinsville, IN) 2830
7. Steve Casebolt (Richmond, IN) 2790
8. Brad Neat (Dunnville, KY) 2700
9. Josh McGuire (Grayson, KY) 2555
10. John Blankenship (Williamson, WV) 2395

Sources: NC Ghost Hunter and lucasdirt.com
Photos by NC Ghost Hunter