Ray Cook
There’s a saying in which it is declared that some try to do too many things and wind up failing at all of them. “A Jack of all trades and master of none” is the text of that quote that is often applied to those who take on more than they can handle.
Ray Cook must have never heard that old saying because the terms of the quote certainly do not apply to this highly successful and respected racing driver, series promoter and track owner. The Brasstown, NC resident wears more hats than just about anyone who tolls within the sport of Dirt Late Model racing. And each of those hats seems to fit him perfectly.
Cook is one of the sport’s top drivers, having scored wins in some of the biggest races in Dirt Late Model competition, including the Hillbilly 100 and multiple Show-me 100 victories as well as other national and regional touring series events. He conducts two of most the highly respected regional tours in the country – the Southern Nationals and Spring Nationals Series. And as if that isn’t enough, he also owns and operates the Tri-County Race Track in his hometown.
With all of the things that must crowd his to-do list everyday, how does Cook remember where he is going and what he is doing from one weekend to the next?
“It’s just day-to-day instead of week-to-week,” Cook declared in an interview with InsideDirtRacing.com. “The weather dictates a lot of it. I tell everybody I’m really not that good at anything so I just do a little bit of everything.”
Of all the things he does in racing, Cook’s greatest passion is most likely for driving. At the recent Hangover event at 411 Motor Speedway(where he won the Crate Late Model feature and placed 3rd in the Super Late Models) he declared that he would love to race in every class if he had the proper car for each.
“My cars are great,” Cook insisted in an interview conducted at the end of the 2015 season. “Everything I’ve got is great. My best engine is down right now and Jay(Dickens) is working on getting it back to us. We’re having to run motors that are six or more years old right now and it’s showing up in qualifying. Marshall Green(of Capital Race Cars) has done a good job getting us what we need for the car, but the motors are our biggest thing right now. The Crate car is good because everybody’s got about the same motor with them. I’m not racing as much as I want to, and out of all those things we do, that’s what I like the most but we just haven’t had the situation to do that. But when you can’t race as much as you want to, you’ve got to find something else to do.”
Ray Cook in his No. 53 Capital Race Car
Cook relished the opportunity he had a few years ago as a full-time driver on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and would very much like to hit the road with that tour again if a suitable situation were to present itself. But until it does, life goes on for the veteran racer.
“I was fortunate there for three or four years to drive with MasterSbilt and Danny Dishman and Ron Ivey,” the 44-year-old recalled. “Those were good years for us. But I haven’t had a situation like that since and there ain’t nobody calling. I’ve still got to make ends meet and when nobody’s calling, you’ve got to create something to do and that’s what we’re doing.”
On the promoting side of things, Cook’s enterprises continue to grow. This past season saw the first ever $10,000-to-win Southern Nationals event when that series held it’s traditional finale at the Tazewell Speedway. An expanded schedule for 2016 promises to continue the upward climb the series continues to make in terms of both prestige and payouts.
“I’m pleased with how it went,” Cook remarked regarding his multiple series efforts. “Obviously, the Spring Nationals took a big blow with the rain, but we still paid the full points fund even though we didn’t race enough races to really do that. Without sponsors and race tracks supporting it, we wouldn’t be able to do that. The Southern Nationals went well. We got nine of those in so I was pleased with that.
“And these (Southern Nationals)Bonus Series races have really come on well with a lot of big races,” he added. “We had the big race at Ponderosa and getting to finish out at Boyd’s then at Cleveland, and not only those three, but all of them. It’s been just what it says, a bonus for the racers and the race tracks. To have Chris Tilley and the crew to come in and officiate the shows, the drivers have confidence in them to make sure things are going to be checked so they know what to expect when they get here.”
And finally, Cook is pleased with the progress Tri-County has made under his care.
“Our fan base is getting up a little bit,” the Tarheel Tiger pointed out. “Our out-of-town crowd is starting to build up thanks to word getting out and everybody helping and trying to get it on the map. Not because I’ve got anything to do with it, but it’s pretty good racing. I don’t know where you can go and see much better.”
The track owner considers himself to be a caretaker who is simply ushering the hidden gem of a facility into the future. But for now, he enjoys the work of keeping the track operating on a day-to-day basis.
“To be honest with you, I’m just trying to keep it open. I would love for somebody to come in there who could make some improvements on it and do some things like they’ve done at Boyd’s and here at Cleveland. But it’s done fine. I think we got to run twelve shows this year with the rainouts. I like fixing it and changing the groove around to have different winners at different times.”
