Toledo Speedway

TOLEDO, OH: (9-17-09): For Jerry Cook, returning home is special. To come home and be able race in the 21st running of the Glass City 200 Late Model invitational presented by AP Motorsports Saturday, October 3 at Toledo Speedway just makes the trip all that more great. Cook will pilot the #06 car owned by Gary and Sheila Slocum at the ½ mile paved oval next weekend.

"It's great to come home and jump in a race car, and especially for the Glass City 200," noted Cook, who has been an employee of Joe Gibbs Racing for several years.  The Stanley, NC resident is a 3-time Toledo Sportsman champ in 1985, 1990 and 1992.  Jerry moved up to Late Models after his Sportsman days and was a force in the Michigan-Ohio-Indiana area, winning several races.  Cook, the oldest son of former Toledo champ Harold Cook and brother to NASCAR Truck Series driver Terry Cook, moved to North Carolina and hired in with the Gibbs team.  Cook was a key element on the #20 car driven by Tony Stewart and now remains in the shop on a daily basis, still working on the #20 Cup cars.

"I miss the races, but I love being home.  My son, now 16, has been running go-karts and we are moving up to an open-wheel Modified next season.  This will be the first time he has been able to be with me in the pit area for a race at home, so we're really looking forward to the Glass City 200," added Cook.  "I try and keep up with what's going on at the tracks I grew up at, and when Gary and Sheila called me it was an easy decision.  To be at the Glass City 200 for the 50^th Anniversary season of Toledo Speedway is historic.  We spent a lot of time there with my dad as kids, working on his car, and eventually Terry and I were racing every weekend at Flat Rock and Toledo."

The Sylvania-Jackman Auto Credit Center of Franklin Park will serve as the sponsor for the pre-race party, which will take place at the Speedway Bar and Grille following the Friday, October 2 practice session, which runs from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.  Each person purchasing a pit pass on Friday will receive a complimentary drink and food, courtesy of the Auto Credit Center, which is located at the corner of Sylvania and Jackman Roads in Toledo.  The party is open to everyone.  The car lot will also host a kick-off event at the location this Saturday, September 26, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

The pit area will open at 1 p.m. Friday afternoon for rig parking, tire sales, tech and practice.  Saturday, October 3 is race day!  The pits will open at 9:30 a.m., practice begins at noon, time trials are set for 3 and racing begins at a special time of 5 p.m.  A rain date of Sunday, October 4 at 1 p.m. has been established if needed.

The race will pay $5500 to the winner, with $1000 earmarked to start the 200 lap classic.  With special awards and lap money on the line, a driver could walk away with over $7500 for his efforts.  LV Alliance has posted $500 for fast time.  The race will feature a 20 minute break at the lap 101 mark.  A total cash purse of over $60,000 has been posted for the 1-day event, which will also include the ARCA Sportsman cars and the Michigan Legends Cars.

In addition to AP Motorsports, race and award sponsors include Allegiant Air, the Hantz Group, Penske Racing Shocks, DTS-Drive Train Specialists, Sunoco/Bazell Race Fuels, Port City Racecars, LV Alliance, All Star Performance, Lane Automotive, Burge Wrecking, R & M Recycling, Kish Ambulance, Celebrations, the Sylvania-Jackman Auto Credit Center of Franklin Park and the Speedway Bar and Grille.  A drawing will be held for fans in attendance for two (2) round trip tickets from Toledo to Florida, courtesy of Allegiant Air.

Reserved seat tickets are now on sale by calling the track office.  Visa and Mastercard are accepted for phone orders.  Just 10 laps of lap money remain for sponsorship at just $10 per lap, with the leader of each lap receiving the bonus.  For tickets or lap money, call the track office at 419-727-1100.