FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

October 24, 2013

Ray Cook Earns Eleventh Win of 2013 at TST; Starts Prepping for National 100!

(BRASSTOWN, NORTH CAROLINA)  Ray Cook and his self-owned #53 team enjoyed an impressive weekend on October 18-19 at the Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, Alabama, as they posted a one-two finish in a pair of special events.  On Friday night, Ray claimed his eleventh feature victory of 2013 in an unsanctioned race that drew nearly fifty racecars.  The Brasstown, North Carolina ace picked up the $2,000 triumph in besting Tim Busha, Todd Morrow, Jake Knowles, and Riley Hickman!

At TST on Saturday evening, the Southern All Stars Dirt Racing Series (SAS) rolled into town to preside over a $4,000 to win showdown.  Ray clicked off the second quickest lap in Group A during the SAS time trial session and later started the 40-lapper from the inside of the second row.  After leading laps 13-28 of the headliner, the popular driver known as the "Tarheel Tiger" was forced to settle for a strong runner-up effort behind only victor Randy Weaver.  Full results from the doubleheader at the "Hornets Nest" can be viewed online at www.talladegashorttrack.com.

"I was tickled about the weekend at Talladega Short Track," commented Cook earlier this week.  "We had a strong car on Friday night and came away with the win.  Then on Saturday evening, I thought I was going to hold those guys off, but Randy (Weaver) got rolling there late in the race and blew past us.  Any time you can leave the track with a little money in your pocket and a racecar that didn't get a scratch on it, you have to consider that a pretty good weekend.  We will take this upcoming weekend off for the Monster Truck deal at Tri-County, but that will give us a little more time to get ready for the big National 100 at East Alabama, which we always look forward to!"

The Ray Cook Racing team will sit idle over the October 25-26 weekend, as Ray will be busy promoting a huge two-day event at Tri-County Race Track featuring Monster Trucks, a Demo Derby, and the season Awards Presentation.  Ray will return to action on November 2-3 in the 39th edition of the 'National 100' at the East Alabama Motor Speedway in Phenix City, Alabama.  He will enter both his Crate Late Model for the $5,000 to win show and his Super Late Model to vie for the hefty $20,000 payday.  Additional information on next weekend's 'National 100' at EAMS can be accessed online at www.eamsdirt.com.

Ray Cook would like to thank all of his supporters including:  MasterSbilt Race Cars, Race Engine Design, Jay D1ckens Racing Engines, PPM Racing Products, A+ Moving and Storage Company, K&N Filters, PRC Racing, Real Racing Wheels, Keyser Manufacturing Co., 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, Rhino Wraps, Schaeffer's Racing Oil, Scott Performance Wire, Stealth Carburetors, Sweet Mfg., T&D Machine, TurboStart 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.

Media Contact: Ryan Delph - Delph Communications

www.DelphCommunications.com

Contact: Chip Williams
Clint Bowyer Racing
cwilliams@clintbowyer.com

 

Clint Bowyer Racing Adds Don O’Neal to Racing Stable
O’Neal to drive the No. 5 BWRC Late Model

Clemmons, N.C. (October 24, 2013) - Clint Bowyer Racing (CBR) has named veteran dirt late model standout driver, Don “the Real Deal” O’Neal, as driver of the CBR No. 5 Peak/Crawford Supply BWRC late model.  O’Neal will join current CBR driver Steve Francis, in the quest for the Lucas Oil Late Model Series (LOLMS) championship.  O’Neal, a Martinsville, Ind., native, brings more than two decades of winning races and championships to the young organization, which also boasts Hall of Famer Steve Francis in its arsenal. O’Neal replaces the 2011 LOLMS Rookie of the Year, Jared Landers in the No. 5. 

“To say I’m excited about the addition of Don O’Neal is an understatement,” said CBR Owner Clint Bowyer.  “Going into 2014 with two veteran drivers like Don (O’Neal) and Steve (Francis) will be a lot of fun and exciting to watch night in and night out.  We’ve been fortunate to have great partners like Peak, Crawford Supply and Georgia Boot support us as we continue to move forward and make our programs better.  Since we started in 2008 with Shannon Babb we’ve had some great drivers behind the wheel of our race cars, O’Neal will continue that for us into the future and help make our program better.  I’d like to thank Jared Landers for his time with our team and for representing our sponsors so well.  I wish him the best in the future.”

O’Neal, a mainstay on the LOLMS, and winner of many of the dirt late model “Crown Jewel” events, will start his 2014 campaign in February, at Georgia’s Golden Isles Speedway. 

“I’m a racer, and after talking with Clint (Bowyer) I know that he is too, and that his love is dirt late model racing,” said Don O’Neal.  “The opportunity to join CBR and work with Steve Francis and Barry Wright is exciting and I’m ready to get started. I was very fortunate to have a lot of success with the Masters family and I can’t thank them enough for the opportunity they provided me.”

Returning in 2014 will be the leadership of Hall of Famer Barry Wright, owner of Barry Wright Race Cars.  The O’Neal-Francis combo will once again be the BWRC “house” cars as they tackle another grueling, 60-plus race schedule. 

O’Neal’s No. 5 will again feature sponsorship from two of CBR’s outstanding partners, Peak Motor Oil and Antifreeze and Crawford Supply, the country’s largest distributor of Traeger wood pellet grills.  Peak will be entering into year two of a partnership with CBR, while Crawford Supply returns for its sixth year of sponsorship with CBR.  CBR proudly recognizes Scott Crawford and his family as the first partners of its dirt late model program, when it started the full-time program in 2008.

 

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