FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 8, 2010

Ray Cook Celebrates Independence Day Weekend with Two Victories; Clash at the Mag Up Next

(BRASSTOWN, NORTH CAROLINA) Ray Cook and the #53 D&R Motorsports team were red-hot over the ultra-busy 4th of July holiday weekend, as they scored a pair of $10,000 victories and two additional podium finishes! On Thursday night at the Beckley Motorsports Park in Mount Hope, West Virginia, Ray won his heat race and led all fifty laps of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series feature event to record the win over Jimmy Owens, Josh Richards, Scott Bloomquist, and Dale McDowell. At the Midway Speedway in Crooksville, Ohio on Friday evening, Ray once again won his heat race before leading all fifty circuits of the 'Jim Dunn Memorial' en route to his ninth triumph of the season over Don O'Neal, Brad Neat, Bart Hartman, and Earl Pearson, Jr.

Two more Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series showdowns greeted the #53 team on Saturday and Sunday in the Buckeye State of Ohio. At the Muskingum County Speedway in Zanesville, Ohio on Saturday, Ray laid down the quickest lap during qualifying, won his heat race, and later led the first 44 laps of the $10,000 to win main event. Unfortunately, Earl Pearson, Jr. was able to sneak by Cook's MasterSbilt racecar following a late restart and Ray was forced to settle for a strong runner-up performance.

In Sunday's $10,000 to win weekend finale at the Portsmouth Raceway Park in Portsmouth, Ohio, the Brasstown, North Carolina native ran third in heat race action and later rolled off tenth in the 50-lap main event. Ray was then able to work his way past seven competitors during the A-Main to secure a third place effort behind only winner Earl Pearson, Jr. and runner-up Scott Bloomquist. The driver known as the "Tarheel Tiger" now finds himself fourth in the latest version of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series point standings following the successful weekend. Complete results from all four shows can be found online at www.midwayracing.com and www.lucasdirt.com.

"It was an unbelievable weekend for us and I can't thank everyone associated with this team enough for all of their support!" exclaimed Cook yesterday via telephone. "Everything is clicking really well right now, our cars are fast, our motors are strong, and we are making the right decisions with setups and tires. Hopefully, things continue in that direction again this weekend at Magnolia and we can contend for the win down there!"

D&R Motorsports will now concentrate their efforts on the upcoming 'Clash at the Mag' at the Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus, Mississippi on July 9-10. The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will once again preside over the 2nd annual event, which boasts a hefty $20,000 winner's check. Qualifying and heat race action are scheduled for this Friday night, while the B-Mains and the 'Clash at the Mag' will wrap up the weekend on Saturday evening. The 100-lap event will be taped by the cameras of the SPEED Channel and broadcast on Saturday, July 31 at 6:00 PM Eastern/5:00 PM Central. Additional information concerning this premier show can be found online at www.lucasdirt.com.

Ray Cook would like to thank all of his supporters including: D&R Motorsports, Hicks & Ingle Company, MasterSbilt Race Cars, Race Engine Design, PPM Racing Products, A+ Moving and Storage Company, K&N Filters, PRC Racing, Real Racing Wheels, Star Grafix, Bill Elliott Racing, James Cook Construction, American Race Tire, Bert Transmissions, Brodix Cylinder Heads, DBR Starters, Delph Communications, Demon Carburetors, FK Rod Ends, Frankland Racing Supply, GW Performance, Integra Shocks, ISC Racers Tape, JB Performance, Mason Racin', MSD Ignition, Peterson Fluid Systems, Schaeffer's Racing Oil, Scott Performance Wire, Stealth Carburetors, Sweet Mfg., T&D Machine, Turbo Start Batteries, VP Racing Fuels, Wiles Driveshafts, and Wilwood.

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