36th Annual Winternationals
East Bay Raceway Park
February 15, 2012
________________________________________

Ray Cook Back in DART Winternationals Victory Lane at East Bay Raceway Park



by James Essex
TAMPA, FL (February 15, 2012) - Ray Cook of Brasstown, NC returned to victory lane at East Bay Raceway Park on Wednesday Night at East Bay Raceway Park. The win was his first in 12 years as he captured the $7,000 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event. Cook took the lead for good on lap 31 from Steve Francis of Ashland, KY to win the DART Winternationals event. Jonathan Davenport of Blairsville, GA passed Francis on the final lap to finish second. Francis, who ran the last laps of the race with a flat right front tire barely edged out Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN for third. Dennis Erb Jr. of Carpentersville, IL rounded out the top five.

In a spirited race for the top spot, three drivers took turns at leading the event with Davenport leading the first four laps until Francis took over the lead. Francis held the point until Cook, who started fourth took the lead for the first time in the race on lap 15. Cook and Francis then battled in traffic until Francis forged back ahead on lap 23. Francis then saw his right front tire start to lose air as Cook got by him for good on lap 31.

"It just goes to show you that anything with the Lord is possible," said the elated Cook in victory lane. "These MasterSbilt Race Cars have run good the first nights with O'Neal winning, this whole team has been working extremely hard, Gary Winger with Integra Shocks, American Racer Tires, there has been a lot of people working a long time to finally get back in victory lane here and we finally did it," said Cook who posted his tenth career win in Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series competition.

Reminiscing on his first and only win at East Bay 12 years ago, Cook said, "We started 21st and it was a 100-lapper, this year we've started off great and we hope to continue the momentum the rest of the season," said the 40-year-old.



Don O'Neal, who was trying to win three in a row this week jumped the cushion in turn two on the first lap and slipped back to fifth. Cook, who started behind O'Neal took advantage of O'Neal's slip. "Any time you get a chance to get by O'Neal you take it, he's been running so well this week."

Cook's D&R Motorsports number 53 is sponsored by A+ Moving and Storage, VP Racing Fuels, Keyser Mfg., GW Performance, PRCF, Hicks, Ingle Company, and Superior Cleaning.

Davenport got by Francis on the final circuit to secure second in the Clint Bowyer Motorsports, Roush-Yates Racing Engines, Barry Wright Toyota. Francis in the Valvoline, Clements Racing Engines, Barry Wright Chevrolet barely hung on for third over Bloomquist in the Hawkeye Trucking, Roush-Yates Racing Engines, Bloomquist Race Cars Ford. Erb, who started 14th, finished fifth in his McBride Mack, Vic Hill Racing Engines, Bloomquist Race Cars entry.
Completing the top ten were Eric Jacobsen of Seacliffe Beach, CA; John Blankenship of Williamson, WV; Terry Casey of New London, WI; Donnie Moran of Dresden, OH; and Randy Korte of Highland, IL.

In preliminary action Don O'Neal was the Red Buck Cigar Fast Qualifier among the 45 entrants. Heat race winners were Jonathan Davenport, O'Neal, Steve Francis, and Ray Cook. The B-mains were taken by Duke Whiseant and Chris Brown. The PRC Strawberry Dash was won by Josh McGuire.

Awaiting the excited competitors in tomorrow night, Thursday, February 16th will be another $7,000 to win show for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series DART Winternationals at East Bay Raceway Park.

For the latest breaking news on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, log onto www.lucasdirt.com or call the series' office at (951) 532-2503.

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series
Race Summary
Wednesday Night, February 15, 2012
36th Annual DART Winternationals
East Bay Raceway Park - Tampa, FL

A-Main  
1 4 53 Ray Cook Brasstown, NC $5,000
2 1 15d Jonathan Davenport Blairsville, GA
3 3 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY
4 6 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
5 14 28e Dennis Erb, Jr. Carpentersville, IL
6 7 5J Eric Jacobsen Watsonville, CA
7 8 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV
8 5 42c Terry Casey New London, WI
9 16 99 Donnie Moran Dresden, OH
10 10 81x Randy Korte Highland, IL
11 11 85 Mark Andersen Blanchard, MI
12 23 5 Jared Landers Batesville, AR
13 13 1 Jackie Nosbisch Valrico, FL
14 19 54W Dillan White Crofton, KY
15 20 18e Eric Wells Hazard, KY
16 21 32 Bobby Pierce Oakwood, IL
17 18 21CB Chris Brown Spring, TX
18 25 b5 Brandon Sheppard Berlin, IL
19 2 71 Don O'Neal Martinsville, IN
20 22 21d Daniel Stone Thompson, PA
21 15 B12 Kevin Weaver Gibson City, IL
22 24 11T Tyler Reddick Corning, CA
23 26 41 Josh McGuire Grayson, KY
24 17 A1 Duke Whiseant Texarkana, AR
25 12 81JR Jason Riggs Harrisburg, IL
26 9 11h Austin Hubbard Seaford, DE

Race Statistics
Entrants: 46
Lap Leaders: Jonathan Davenport (Lap 1 - 5); Steve Francis (Laps 5 - 14); Ray Cook (Laps 15 - 22); Steve Francis (Laps 23 - 30); Ray Cook (Laps 31 - 35);
Caution Flags: Austin Hubbard (Lap 5)
Time of Race: 16 minutes 47 seconds

______________________________________

B-Main #1  
1 2 A1 Duke Whiseant Texarkana, TX
2 1 54 Dillon White Crofton, KY
3 3 32 Bobby Pierce Oakwood, IL
4 6 777 Jared Landers Batesville, AR
5 4 4h Chad Hollenbeck Kingsley, PA
6 10 44 James O'Hara Daleville, PA
7 7 1 Doug Blashe Marion, WI
8 11 21 Todd Frank Green Bay, WI
9 5 81 Scott James Bright, IN
10 12 71E Pat Ehlert Ovid, MI
11 8 51 Travis Varnadore Dover, FL
12 9 18d Danny Mitchell Clarksburg, WV

B-Main #2
1 2 21c Chris Brown Spring, TX
2 3 18 Eric Wells Hazard, KY
3 1 21d Dan Stone Thompson, PA
4 6 11 Tyler Reddick Corning, CA
5 4 b5 Brandon Sheppard New Berlin, IL
6 10 31 Scott Creel Franklinton, LA
7 5 4 Victor Lee Sanford, KY
8 7 10X Leon Henderson Laurel, MS
9 13 41 Josh McGuire Ashland, KY
10 8 11 Shane Cottle Kokomo, IN
11 12 48 Steve Lance Cuba, IL
12 11 32 Chad Stapleton Edinburgh, IN
13 9 71 Terry Naugle Port Royal, PA

Strawberry Dash
1 1 41 Josh McGuire Ashland, KY
2 5 31 Scott Creel Franklinton, LA
3 6 48 Steve Lance Cuba, IL
4 2 51 Travis Varnadore Dover, FL
5 4 71E Pat Ehlert Ovid, MI
6 3 10X Leon Henderson Laurel, MS

________________________________________

Heat #1  
1 1 49 Jonathan Davenport Blairsville, GA
2 2 42 Terry Casey New London, WI
3 3 19H Austin Hubbard Seaford, DE
4 6 01 Jack Nosbisch Riverview, FL
5 4 54 Dillon White Crofton, KY
6 5 32 Bobby Pierce Oakwood, IL
7 8 81 Scott James Bright, IN
8 10 1 Doug Blashe Marion, WI
9 9 18d Danny Mitchell Clarksburg, WV
10 11 21 Todd Frank Green Bay, WI
11 7  Morris
dns 16 Justin Rattliff Campbellsville, KY

Heat #2  
1 1 15 Steve Francis Ashland, KY
2 2 5 Eric Jacobsen Seacliff Beach, CA
3 4 85 Mark Anderson Blanchard, MI
4 5 B12 Kevin Weaver Gibson City, IL
5 6 A1 Duke Whiseant Texarkana, TX
6 8 4h Chad Hollenbeck Kingsley, PA
7 7 777 Jared Landers Batesville, AR
8 10 51 Travis Varnadore Dover, FL
9 9 44 James O'Hara Daleville, PA
10 3 18 Shannon Babb Moweaqua, IL

Heat #3  
1 1 71 Don O'Neal Martinsville, IN
2 3 0 Scott Bloomquist Mooresburg, TN
3 2 81X Randy Korte Highland, IL
4 4 28 Dennis Erb Jr Carpentersville, IL
5 6 21d Dan Stone Thompson, PA
6 5 18 Eric Wells Hazard, KY
7 10 4 Victor Lee Sanford, KY
8 12 11 Tyler Reddick Corning, CA
9 9 11 Shane Cottle Kokomo, IN
10 7 31 Scott Creel Franklinton, LA
11 11 48 Steve Lance Cuba, IL
12 8 76 Shelby Miles Bloomington, IN

Heat #4  
1 2 53 Ray Cook Brasstown, NC
2 1 23 John Blankenship Williamson, WV
3 3 81jr Jason Riggs Harrisburg, IL
4 5 99 Donnie Moran Dresden, OH
5 7 21c Chris Brown Spring, TX
6 4 b5 Brandon Sheppard New Berlin, IL
7 8 14b Morgan Bagley Longview, TX
8 9 10X Leon Henderson Laurel, MS
9 10 71 Terry Naugle Port Royal, PA
10 11 32 Chad Stapleton Edinburgh, IN
11 6 41 Josh McGuire Ashland, KY

_______________________________________

Red Buck Cigars Fast Time Group A: Jonathan Davenport 14.820
Red Buck Cigars Fast Time Group B: Don O'Neal 14.694