Sylvania's Cook wins in Milwaukee
6/30/2002WEST ALLIS, Wis. - Terry Cook of Sylvania took advantage of a race-extending caution yesterday at The Milwaukee Mile, passing Jason Leffler with less than two laps remaining to win the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series GNC Live Well 200.
Cook, who led 127 of the first 154 laps before a slow pit stop dropped his Ford to fifth place, battled back to within a half-second of Leffler's Dodge but was running out of time when Brian Rose hit the wall.
The race's third caution extended the 200-lap, 200-mile distance for three laps - the last two under green - and Cook took full advantage of the reprieve.
The Ohio native was able to dive under Leffler's truck as the pair began the 202nd trip around the oval. He took the lead off Turn 2 and extended the lead to .696 seconds.
Cook, who averaged 104.490 mph, won for the second time in 2002 and third in a 127-race NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career dating to mid-1996. He won $48,960 plus a $10,000 bonus.
“I was going to be heartbroken,” said Cook, believing he was destined to finish second for the second time in as many races despite having the fastest truck. “I just yelled `yeeha' when that caution came out.''