ICE BOWL XXI
Talladega Short Track
January 8, 2012
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Ray Cook Starts 2012 Season with Ice Bowl Victory at Talladega Short Track

Delph Communications
EASTABOGA, Ala. (January 9) - The "Tarheel Tiger" Ray Cook debuted a new orange paint scheme on his #53 MasterSbilt racecar on January 7-8 at the Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, Alabama and it certainly did not slow him down, as he captured his second 'Ice Bowl' title in convincing fashion! During the extended weekend at TST, a combination of new clay and intermittent rain showers kept the racing surface rough and fast. On Saturday, Ray laid down a solid lap during the qualifying session and later dominated his heat race en route to the prelim victory.

When Sunday rolled around at the track deemed as the "Hornets Nest," Ray started the 50-lap 'Ice Bowl' from the outside of the second row. The Brasstown, North Carolina native muscled past polesitter Jason Wilson to grab the point on the eighth circuit and led the remainder of the distance en route to the $6,000 payday. Ray, who also won the 'Ice Bowl' back in 2009, defeated Joe Armistead, Jr., Stacy Holmes, Jason Hiett, and Chad Winkles in the rough and tumble race, which was slowed by nine caution periods.

"We are just so tickled to get a win right off the bat in 2012 and especially at a race with so much prestige like the Ice Bowl," stated Cook via telephone this morning. "Everything worked real well all weekend and we learned some stuff on our car to get through those rough track conditions. I have to thank my entire team, but especially Keith (Masters) and Gary (Winger) for some valuable help on how to get through those holes. Back in 2009 when I won the Ice Bowl for the first time, it helped propel us to maybe the best year in my career. Hopefully, this Ice Bowl victory will come close to doing the same thing!"

Super Late Models

A-Main (unofficial)
1 53 Ray Cook Brasstown, NC $6,000
2 21 Joe Armistead Jr Sharpsburg, GA
3 H2 Stacy Holmes Munford, AL
4 1H Jason Hiett Lincoln, AL
5 12 Chad Winkles Falkville, AL
6 66 Jake Knowles Tyrone, GA
7 22W Jason Wilson Margaret, AL
8 25 Tim Rozell Anniston, AL
9 33 David Brannon Elora, TN
10 1H Vic Hill Morristown, TN
11 15H Ethan Hunter Tiger, GA
12 17S Jeff Smith Chatsworth, GA
13 47 Ross Martin Talladega, AL
14 32 Lamar Scoggins Cleveland, TN
15 99 Terry Smith Oxford, AL
16 47H Brad Hall Knoxville, TN
17 15D Jamie Dacus Lakeland, TN
18 22 Mike Weeks Friendsville, TN
19 7C Dillon Crim Eastaboga, AL
20 97B Lee Burdett Hueytown, AL
21 26 Tony Knowles Tyrone, GA
22 15B Tim Busha Boaz, AL
23 121 Benji Cole Cannon, GA
24 29 Jason Welshan Maryville, TN
25 C8 Timothy Culp West Monroe, LA

Crate Late Models

A-Main (unofficial)
1 17S Jeff Smith
2 07 Larry Timms
3 77 Brian Connor
4 55K Ryan King
5 15B Tim Busha
6 17G Adam Gauldin
7 39J Jimmy Elliott
8 35 Tony Gray
9 11 Scottie Hiett
10 2X Anthony White
11 007 Hunter Best
12 11S Austin Smith
13 10W Chris Wilson
14 34 Chad Wallace
15 51 James Cline
16 29 Jason Welshan
17 47 Michael Page
18 23 Cory Hedgecock
19 95 Brandon Williams
20 18E Chase Edge
21 07JE Jimmy Elkins Jr
22 56 Kyle May
23 21 Mac Owens
24 5C Mike Combs

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ICEBOWL
Talladega Short Track
January 7, 2012

Heat #1
1 22W Jason Wilson Margaret, AL
2 H2 Stacy Holmes Munford, AL
3 17S Jeff Smith Chatsworth, GA
4 33 John Owenby Cleveland, TN
5 25 Tim Rozell Anniston, AL
6 47 Ross Martin Talladega, AL
7 11S Lavon Sparks Phenix City, AL
8 21J Kelly Walker Moultrie, GA
9 12V Wayne Vintson Moulton, AL
10 58 Larry Boutwell Baker, FL
11 22S Brian Smith Sand Rock, AL
 
Heat #2
1 1H Vic Hill Morristown, TN
2 21 Joe Armistead Jr Sharpsburg, GA
3 33 David Brannon Elora, TN
4 18D Doug King Anniston, AL
5 46 Chris Jones Alabaster, AL
6 F36 Cale Finley Ardmore, AL
7 41K Steve Kirk Munford, AL
8 16A Steven Ashby Cunningham, TN
9 71 Mike Ashley Greenwood, SC
10 35B Dennis Barton Corbin, KY
 
Heat #3
1 12 Chad Winkles Falkville, AL
2 15B Tim Busha Boaz, AL
3 99 Terry Smith Oxford, AL
4 47H Brad Hall Knoxville, TN
5 R1 Riley Hickman Ooltewah, TN
6 48 Todd Morrow East Ridge, TN
7 T3 Todd Watson Eastaboga, AL
8 21M Mario Gresham Rome, GA
9 113 Mark Gant Pisgah, AL
10 1A Levi Ashby Cunningham, TN
 
Heat #4
1 53 Ray Cook Brasstown, NC
2 26 Tony Knowles Tyrone, GA
3 7C Dillon Crim Eastaboga, AL
4 3C James Cline Oxford, AL
5 X15 Skip Freeman Hale City, AL
6 60 Gar Dickson Flintstone, GA
7 66 Jake Knowles Tyrone, GA
8 15JR Thomas Dacus Lakeland, TN
9 47 Adam Martin Talladega, AL
10  Mike Fields Alabama
11 16 Daniel Miller Sheblyville, TN
 
Heat #5
1 1H Jason Hiett Lincoln, AL
2 18 Ronny Lee Holingsworth Northport, AL
3 15 Ethan Hunter Tiger, GA
4 32 Lamar Scoggins Cleveland, TN
5 H3 Kayne Hickman Soddy Daisy, TN
6 97 Lee Burdett Hueytown, AL
7 15D Jamie Dacus Lakeland, TN
8 6 Joey Standridge Knoxville, TN
9 21 Royce Bray Hull, GA
10 25W Jeff Walker McMinnville, TN
11 15LH Luke Hoffner Turbotville, PA
12 07 Scott Hall Rome, GA
 
Heat #6
1 22 Benji Cole Cannon, GA
2 29 Jason Welshan Maryville, TN
3 C8 Timothy Culp West Monroe, LA
4 22 Mike Weeks Friendsville, TN
5 15 Randall Walker Pell City, AL
6 81 Jackson Hale Southside, AL
7 26s Jon Stinson Memphis, TN
8 18 David Seibers Petersburg, TN
9 2R Randy Polk Milton, FL
10 61 Caleb Ashby Cunningham, TN
11 88 Ernie Millon Pennsylvania
12 19SK Scott Knowles Lanett, AL

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The D&R Motorsports team will go back to work at the shop this week to comb through their #53 car to look for any bent or broken parts due to the rough racing surface at TST. Weather pending, the next race for the team will be on Saturday, January 21 at the Boyd's Speedway in Ringgold, Georgia. The annual running of the 'Cabin Fever 40' is scheduled to pay $3,000 to the winner in two weeks time.

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, Bill Elliott Racing, James Cook Construction, American Race Tire, Bert Transmissions, Brodix Cylinder Heads, Chizmark & Larson Insurance Agency, DBR Starters, Delph Communications, Demon Carburetors, Eibach Springs, 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.