Cook looks to improve on career struggles at Texas (cont'd)

Cook may not have a side job as a psychic, but he was right on. In the last five races he's finished in the top 15 in each of them, including a ninth at Kansas and an eighth last week at Dover, his best finish of the season. He has made a steady climb up the points standings and currently sits 13th, just 461 points behind Mike Skinner.

With the team riding a high, Cook says the time is now to make a charge toward the top.

By the Numbers

Brendan Gaughan made history when he won four consecutive races at Texas Motor Speedway from 2002-2003. He's back in the No. 77 Dodge looking to end a skid that started after his fourth Texas win -- a 59-race winless streak.

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"We'll be focusing on keeping the big train moving at Texas," Cook said. "We had a great team effort at Dover and another top-10 at Texas would go a long way in keeping that momentum rolling."

Cook has a lot of work to do if he hopes to post a second consecutive top-10 at the track. He posted the 19th-fastest speed in the first practice at 176.667 mph, almost 4 mph slower than leader Todd Bodine. His second practice wasn't much better, 17th at 175.913.

The 39-year-old found some speed in qualifying, crusing at 178.077, but so did everyone else and Cook will roll off in the 22nd starting position.

There's something to be said about knowledge though, and that's exactly where Cook has an advantage on the rest of the field. Cook knows better than anyone where to accelerate and where to hit the brakes and there's one spot on the track he hopes his knowledge gives him the inside edge.

"The real scary part of Texas Motor Speedway is Turn 3," Cook said. "It's been that way since they opened the place. It's an intimidating corner.

"You wind up turning into it while you are still on the backstretch banking. It's a very insecure feeling hammering into the corner, especially at more than 180 mph. It's easily the most treacherous part of the racetrack."