Cook's win puts Music City over the top

National Dragster, Nov 7, 2003

NHRA SUMMIT RACING SERIES FINALS (Div. 2) - If not for the heroic efforts of Super Pro Bike racer Ricky Cook, Music City Raceway would not have defended its 2002 team championship. Heading into the final round against Jax Raceways' Troy Crawford, Cook needed a win to keep pace in the closest points battle in the history of E.T. Finals competition.

Focused on the race and oblivious to his team's plight, Cook responded with a victory after Crawford fouled.

"I had no idea that our team was in contention for the points title until after the race was over," said Cook, an E.T. Finals runner-up in 1996. "Our team was short on cars this year, so I never thought we had a shot at it. Even though we didn't have a lot of cars, our bike racers generally do well, and I'm sure that helped."

Cook's inspiration came from 2002 Division 2 Super Pro Bike champ Mike Wilson, who lost a close race against Cook's wife, Tonya, in round two.

"After my wife beat him, Mike came over to our trailer and introduced himself," said Cook. "He let me hold his championship ring from last year, and that was all the motivation I needed; it really pumped me up. I was also a little disappointed because we were trying to win the Best Appearing Bike trophy Friday but didn't, so I was trying to make up for that."

Cook got a scare in round one when his opponent scored a nearly perfect .006 light, but he rallied with a .013 light. Cooks' biggest challenge came in the quarterfinals, where he was paired with Tonya, the reigning Music City Raceway track champion. Cook won the round with a .011 light and a .02-over 5.87.

"When we got down to the last five bikes, there were still three of us from Music City," said Cook. "I knew I would end up running someone from our team, and it ended up being Tonya. We've been in several final rounds together, and our record against each other is about even. I hated to run her, but I knew that at least one of us was going to the final because the winner was probably going to get a bye in the semi's. That was by far my toughest race of the day."

Cook recorded a solid .013 light on his semifinal bye, then posted a .028 in the final. Cook had just left the starting line in the final when he noticed Crawford's eight-thousandths foul.

"I saw his bike move out of the corner of my eye when I launched, and I thought to myself, 'He's going to have a really good light,' " said Cook. "That's when I noticed that he red-lighted.

"I've been trying to win this race ever since I runner-upped in 1996," Cook continued. "We're looking forward to going to Pomona; I know that's a once-in-a-lifetime deal. I have to thank my wife, Tonya; our daughter, Britney; my sister-in-law, Tiffany Spencer; Dylan Cordle; and the crew at Bennett's Cycle."