Season-opening penalty proving painful for Cook

Cook's 2002 Stats | Last 6 Races: Cook 1st

He has one major reason to feel bitter about his standing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series points chase.

See, Terry Cook is just 102 points behind leader Ted Musgrave.

Actually, though Cook would only trail Musgrave by two points, had he not been deducted 100 points for an engine infraction following his sixth-place run at the season-opening event in Daytona.

"That was tough to swallow," said Cook about the penalty. "But, I am not focusing on the points I lost at Daytona. That is in the past. If I worry about the points I lost, then I will lose focus on what I am trying to do each week."

	Terry Cook entered the season with only one Craftsman Truck Series win -- and already, he has scored three in 2002. Credit: Autostock

Well, Cook is following his own advice.

Since the setback at Daytona, the Indianapolis resident has scored more points than any other driver in the NCTS, thanks in large part to his three wins, the latest which was the New England 200 last Saturday at New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon.

"We are just trying to win races every time we get to a track," said Cook, who has 10 top-10 finishes in the 12 Truck Series events so far this year. "I am not worried about the points right now, we just need to be consistent each week and the points will take care of themselves."

Cook is especially excited about the next race in the NCTS - the Michigan 200 Saturday at the two-mile Michigan International Speedway.

"I love Michigan," Cook said. "It is a place where there is no distinct groove and you can go three wide all over the track and slingshot to pass almost anywhere because of the banking. Plus, I feel like Michigan is a home track for me because I grew up in Sylvania, Ohio, which was 45 minutes from the speedway. And of course, the speedway is right in Ford's backyard, so we want to put on a good show."

What's more, the MIS race also is a homecoming for Cook's K-Automotive race team that is headquartered just outside Detroit in Lake Orion, Mich.

"Michigan is our home track and it's as close as we can get to home," said Kay Keselowski, part owner and race-day spotter of the No. 29 Ford. "It holds a lot of history for us. My husband, Bob, won an ARCA race there years ago. We'll have a lot of family and friends that will come out and cheer for us."

Following Michigan, Cook also is well aware of the significance of the Power Stroke Diesel 200 Aug. 2 at Indianapolis Raceway Park's .686-mile facility.

"IRP is a neat little short track," Cook said. "And, considering our sponsor is sponsoring the race, it would be very special to get to Victory Lane there."