Chris Cook Finds Respect, Hope - and Heartbreak - at Watkins Glen

Watkins Glen, August 16, 2005 – Chris Cook’s Saturday at Watkins Glen ran the gamut of emotions for him and his TradePortal Chevrolet team, as his qualifying run for the NEXTEL Cup Sirius Satellite Radio at The Glen was washed away by rain, followed by a strong run in the Busch Series Zippo 200 that ended with his running out of gas just seconds from the finish line.

Despite rain beginning to fall during his NEXTEL Cup qualifying lap, Cook ran solidly in the 27th position, easily qualifying for the race with eight drivers still to qualify. Unfortunately, the rain continued to fall, leading NASCAR officials to cancel qualifying and set the lineup for Sunday’s race based on owner points. Cook had only driven in one NEXTEL Cup race coming into the event, so with 43 cars making it into the field he was on the outside looking in. Cook took NASCAR’s decision in stride.

“There are a lot of mixed emotions,” said Cook. ”I’m disappointed, but I felt good about doing my job and qualifying the car. NASCAR did what they felt they had to do.”

Cook gathered himself for a strong run in the Zippo 200, where he had qualified in 17th position earlier in the day. Despite the race starting the first 17 laps under caution and additional delays due to driver accidents and mechanical failures, Cook worked his way to the 13th position- racing against ten NEXTEL Cup regulars- with 20 laps remaining in the 82-lap race.

“From the middle of the race on I knew we had one of the fastest cars on the track and I wanted a top-10. I could see the leaders and I just started picking guys off one by one,” said Cook. “When I was coaching, I would always tell drivers, ‘Don’t make mistakes, wait for your opportunities’, and today that’s what I was doing- I was coaching myself.”

With two laps remaining, Cook was battling with Cup superstars Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle and Kasey Kahne for a finish in the top 10, and Cook liked his chances.

“My plan was to get Biffle on turn one on the inside and then pick off Edwards on turn 10- but it just wasn’t in the cards,” said Cook.

On the final lap, Cook ran out of gas as he was making his move on Edwards, just seconds from the checkered flag. He coasted the TradePortal Chevrolet across the finish line to finish in 24th position.

“It was like a bad dream, you just don’t believe that could happen to you. I’m disappointed for the sponsors and the team because we nearly had a top-10,” said Cook following the race. “I’m upset, sure, but we were right there. Those guys knew I was there and fighting them hard-- I can’t wait to get back out there.”

Cook and his TradePortal Chevrolet team will now weigh their options for further races in 2005.

“Chris’ performance gives us more determination than ever,” said Chris Evans, owner of Christine Marie Motorsports, Chris Cook’s race team. “He proved all day today that he can race with the best.”

For more information about Chris Cook, the TradePortal Chevrolet and Christine Marie Motorsports, please visit www.christinemariemotorsports.com

About TradePortal
Since 1998, TradePortal has been providing Direct Market Access (DMA) software to the financial services industry. Headquartered in Irvine, California, TradePortal is an equity partner of Thomson Financial, an operating unit of The Thomson Corporation (NYSE: TOC, TSX: TOC) and licenses its software to leading financial institutions including Merrill Lynch, National Financial/Fidelity, Computer Clearing Services, Pacific Growth Equities, and the Takada Trading Group, Inc. Visit www.tradeportal.com

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