Ray Cook
One thing that observers may have noticed about the starting lineup for Saturday night’s World of Outlaws Late Models feature race was that Ray Cook was entered in the No. 11 machine typically piloted by Clinton, Tenn. racer Stacy Boles. It was the first outing in which the two veteran campaigners had combined their efforts, but it does not appear as if it will be the last.
“Stacy and I have talked about me driving some for him but this deal for tonight just came together the day before yesterday,” Cook said in an interview with InsideDirtRacing.com prior to the racing action at Smoky Mountain. “He called me and asked if I wanted to drive in this race for him so we going to give it a shot.”
Cook was the fifth fastest in Group B time-trials on Saturday night and went on to claim a spot in the feature by placing fourth in the third heat race.
Stacy Boles
“We don’t necessarily have a set plan as to what we’re going to run except that we’ll just try to make it to some special events and a few races like that,” Cook explained. “Right now, we’re just waiting for Stacy to get new cars from Marshall Green at Capital Race Cars so a lot just depends on when they get them ready for us.”
Cook’s racing exploits are limited due to his busy schedule. The Brasstown, NC resident owns and operates the Tri-County Race Track located in his hometown as well as promoting the Southern Nationals and Spring Nationals racing series. Further, he also sells racing tires through his American Racer distributorship.
Boles owns and operates Advanced Transportation, a successful trucking company which places time demands on his schedule. Recently, he provided a second car from his stable to Knoxville, Tenn. driver Billy Ogle, Jr., who won features in both the WoO Late Models and Spring Nationals at Tazewell Speedway last season as well as the Southern Nationals Series opener at Virginia’s Wythe Raceway in July. However, that partnership came to an end just after this year’s Georgia/Florida SpeedWeeks races at Screven Motor Speedway in Georgia.
Boles plans to continue racing for himself as well as having Cook in one of his cars in selected events that fit into the schedules of both competitors.
Cook behind the wheel of the Boles Capital Race Car at SMS
