North Bay NASCAR Driver Takes Straight Path To Road Course Racing

Chris Cook is right where he wants to be — in the driver's seat.

Cook, 45, was having more fun than the media members he was thrilling during a guest-ride hot lap around Race Sonoma, which will host this weekend's NASCAR Sprint Cup Toyota/SaveMart 350.

Cook, who recently moved back to his native St. Helena from Napa, is an instructor with Sonoma-based SNT Motorsports, but trade his behind-the-scene role for the national spotlight this weekend.

Cook will be in the main event, driving the #19 Toyota Camry for Humphrey-Smith Motorsports, as a last-minute substitute. Qualifying is Friday at 3:40 p.m. and the race is Sunday at noon.

"This is not a track you can take for granted. You've got to be on your game," Cook said of his home track.

The 3,400-pound machines are heavy, not sleek, and certainly not built for the challenges of a road course.

"They like to go straight. These cars don't turn easily, they don't slow down easily," Cook said.

NASCAR drivers aren't used to steering as much as they have to at Sonoma's 10-turn road circuit. In a way, it's like navigating Lombard Street at full speed. "You've got to straighten out the course," said Cook, who hit every single blue-and-gold rumble strip on the track, trying to iron out the turns.

The road course features more than 160 feet of elevation change from its highest to lowest points. The highest point at Turn 3a reaches 174 feet, while the lowest point at Turn 10 is just 14 feet.

Cook made sure I felt every turn during our ride-along. I didn't want to be a backseat driver, but I desperately wanted him to go faster. I gave him two thumbs up and we went hard into the curves.

Cook said we pushed the spedometer to a mere 130 mph, just a little slower than he expects to go this weekend.

Racing in Sonoma is what Cook dreamed of doing ever since he first set foot on the track in 1985. He studied under the legendary Bob Bondurant and later worked as an instructor at Bondurant's racing school, which was based at Sears Point.

"It was unbelievable. The track was amazing," Cook said. "Those years with Bob were golden years. They were some of the best times of my life.

"Racing full-time is all I ever wanted to do. I found my niche. ... By racing, I validate what I do as an instructor."

Cook is passing on the lessons he learned to some of today's top NASCAR drivers. In recent years, he's tutored 2011 pole winner Joey Logano, two-time race winner Tony Stewart (2001, 2005) and up-and-comers Regan Smith, Paul Menard and Aric Almirola.

"You can't take any second of this track for granted," Logano said Thursday, almost imitating Cook. "You have to be aggressive, but you have to stay (focused)."

Cook taught him well, it seems. Logano is 15th in the NASCAR points standings entering this weekend's race.

Cook is something of a local celebrity on his block. The St. Helena High grad loves to share his enthusiasm for racing with the neighborhood kids.

"The local kids always want to go for rides. It's great, I love them. It's all about the kids," Cook said. "The cool thing is I still love racing. … I still get a positive vibe out of it."

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Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

WHAT: Big O Tires Racing Season Presents: Toyota/Save Mart 350

WHEN: June 22-24

2011 POLE WINNER: Joey Logano

2011 WINNER: Kurt Busch

NOTABLE: The weekend will also feature the Pick-n-Pull Racing to Stop Hunger 200 NASCAR Pro Series West race on Saturday. Race fans will be treated to a 25-minute air show by Discovery Bay's Patriots Jet Team during pre-event ceremonies on Sunday.

TICKETS: $25-$130 single day/$99-$180 weekend; parking is FREE. Discounts for military.

INFORMATION: 800-870-RACE (7223), racesonoma.com/nascar or ticketmaster.com