Cook-Finley Racing

Cook-Finley Racing (formerly Chad Finley Racing) is an American professional stock car and dirt track racing team. It is owned by crew chief Bruce Cook and driver Chad Finley, who also drove for the team in the No. 42 in the ARCA Menards Series, and the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series. The team ceased their Truck and ARCA operations during the 2019 season when Finley decided he wanted to focus on competing in the American Ethanol Late Model Tour. However, they re-opened the ARCA side of the team in 2020 with the team's crew chief, Bruce Cook, taking over most of the ownership of it from Finley.[1]

Cook-Finley Racing
Owner(s)Bruce Cook
Chad Finley
BaseMooresville, North Carolina
Series
Race driversARCA Menards Series East:
42. Parker Retzlaff
SponsorsARCA Menards Series East:
42. Iron Horse Loggers, PONSEE
ManufacturerToyota, Chevrolet
Opened2016
Career
DebutARCA: 2016 Corrigan Oil 200 (Michigan)
Truck: 2018 Eaton 200 (Gateway)
Latest raceARCA: 2018 General Tire 150 (Charlotte)
Truck: 2019 Buckle Up in Your Truck 225 (Kentucky)
Races competedARCA: 11
Truck: 8
Drivers' Championships0
Race victories0
Pole positions0

History

Driver Chad Finley formed a part-time team in the ARCA Racing Series in 2016, where he would be the driver. it was his first season in the series since 2010, when he drove part-time for K-Automotive Motorsports. In the team's debut race at Michigan, they fielded the No. 51 Chevrolet, where they would start and finish thirteenth. Their next start came at IRP, and Finley had a strong fifth place finish. He attempted one more race that year at Chicagoland, where Finley qualified fourth but did not finish the race, ending up in 23rd.

The team returned in 2017, and in their first start of the season, which came at Nashville, Finley pulled off an upset win.

On June 20, 2018, it was announced that Chad Finley would enter the summer Gateway race fielding is self-owned No. 42 Chevrolet. He started 20th and came home with an impressive 6th place finish.[2] Finley and the No. 42 returned at Bristol.[3] Finley started 12th, but finished in a disappointing 30th place finish after an early exit due to an engine issue.

Lyons' truck at Daytona in 2019.
Finley crashing in the grass at Atlanta the following week.
Smithley in his race for the team at Texas.

On December 5, 2018, it was announced that the No. 42 would run full time in the 2019 season. Chad Finley, Robby Lyons, and other drivers were to split the ride throughout the season.[4][5] The team qualified 20th in the season-opener at Daytona with Robby Lyons behind the wheel, but would fall victim to an accident on lap 2, effectively ending their night. After the 30th place finish at Daytona, Chad Finley took the reigns at Atlanta, where he started 30th before being involved in another accident, leaving them with a 28th place result. After the conclusion of this event, the team's hauler entered the incorrect and shorter tunnel when exiting the track (on the way back to the shop), sustaining severe damage to both the hauler and the race trucks inside. This forced the team to withdraw from both the spring Las Vegas, and Martinsville races.[6] CFR returned in Texas, with Garrett Smithley driving the No. 42 this time, making his first start with the team. Smithley rolled off from the 25th position, before driving up through the field to finish a solid 15th place. Finley then took the wheel, starting and finishing in the 18th position at Charlotte. At Kentucky, Finley qualified in the 12th spot, and looked to have a good run going, before getting loose and backing into the turn 3 wall, effectively placing them in the 26th position.

On November 21, 2019, Finley announced the team's Truck Series assets had been sold in order to focus on racing in the American Ethanol Late Model Tour.[7]

On January 30, 2020, it was announced that the team would be returning and debuting in the ARCA Menards Series East (formerly the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East), fielding the No. 42 Toyota part-time for Parker Retzlaff starting at Five Flags. With Finley focusing on running late models, the team's crew chief, Bruce Cook, took over most of the ownership of the stock-car team, and it was renamed Cook-Finley Racing. Cook and Retzlaff worked together at Visconti Motorsports in 2019 in two races. (Cook crew chiefed for both teams that year.) In addition, it was announced that the CFR team would have a partnership with Visconti this season.[1]

References
  1. Christley, Jason (January 30, 2020). "Opportunity Knocks For Parker Retzlaff". ARCARacing.com. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  2. "Chad Finley returns to Truck Series with Gateway attempt". ESPN.com. 2018-06-21. Retrieved 2018-12-07.
  3. DigitalCavalry. "Chad Finley Racing – Chad Finley and team ready for Bristol Truck Series debut". Retrieved 2018-12-07.
  4. Eggert, Seth. "Chad Finley Racing to Attempt Full Truck Season in 2019". Motorsports Tribune. Retrieved 2018-12-07.
  5. "Chad Finley Racing set to increase Truck Series schedule". ESPN.com. 2018-12-05. Retrieved 2018-12-07.
  6. "Chad Finley Racing withdraws Las Vegas Motor Speedway entry". Racing News. 2019-02-27. Retrieved 2019-03-29.
  7. Hiser, Zach (November 21, 2019). "Finley Caps Truck Efforts, Focused on Dirt for 2020". American Ethanol Late Model Tour. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
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