Phoenix Race Report
   
Terry Cook and his Power Stroke® Diesel Ford got back on the right track capturing their ninth Top-5 finish of the 2002 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season with a fifth-place effort at Phoenix International Raceway Friday.

"We are definitely headed back in the right direction," said Cook, who started fourth in the 150-lap event. "We grabbed a Top-10 finish at California and now a Top-5 at Phoenix. I think we'll have one of the trucks to beat at the final race in Miami."

Cook stayed in the Top-5 throughout the first third of the race before pitting under caution for four tires and a chassis adjustment at Lap 71. A winner of four NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events this season, Cook eventually battled his way back into the Top-5 before surviving a green-white-checkered flag dash to the finish.

"We were running fifth when the final caution happened and we were set to do whatever we could battling a tight handling truck," said Cook, who notched his 49th career NCTS Top-5 finish. "It got a little crazy on those final laps, but we were determined to score a Top-5 finish and we did. It was a great effort by everyone on this Power Stroke Diesel team."

Cook earned $12,025 for the top finish in the 150-lap event and is now eighth in the NCTS 2002 championship standings, just 55 markers out of fifth. Cook and his Power Stroke Diesel team will next travel to Miami for the 2002 NCTS season finale - the Ford 200 - at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Last season, Cook finished 10th in the event on the one-mile South Florida oval.

"Homestead is another track that favors our program," said Cook. "The team's staying out here in Phoenix for a couple of days to get the truck we raced here ready for Homestead. Nothing would be better than to end the season with a win."

The Ford 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway will take the green flag Friday, November 15 and will be telecast by espn2 beginning at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The event will also be broadcast live by MRN Radio beginning at 3 p.m. EST.