Jerry Cook


Jerry Cook is an American NASCAR modified championship race car driver. He began racing at the age of 13 and won the track championship at Utica-Rome Speedway in 1969.

Racing career

Cook built his first modified in 1956 to compete at Ransomville Speedway in Western New York, naming Cam Gagliardi as his driver. In 1959, he built a car for Modified Hall of Fame|Hall of Fame] driver Ken Meahl. It was number 38 and that became Cook's career number. In 1962, Meahl totaled two cars, and Cook decided that if he had to fix them he might as well drive them. In 1963, at age 18, he started racing and won his first main event that year at Utica-Rome.
Cook eventually went to become a six-time champion in the NASCAR Modified series. His rivalry with fellow Rome, New York driver Richie Evans is legendary. He retired after the 1982 season with 342 wins. He stayed with the sport, and helped shape the series.
In 1973, Cook attempted to qualify for the Daytona 500 in a No. 07 Chevrolet. In his Daytona 500 Qualifying Race, he spun on lap 44 and finished 25th, failing to make the 500.

NASCAR administration

Cook served as the Whelen Modified Series' director when it began in 1985, and retired as NASCAR's Competition Administrator in 2015.

Awards