Cook Racing Technologies Overview
Cook Racing Technologies is an American professional stock car racing team that operates out of Mooresville, North Carolina. The team fields the No. 84 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro part-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for Patrick Staropoli, while also running the No. 17 entry in the ARCA Menards Series and the ARCA Menards Series West, plus the No. 42 in ARCA Menards Series West competition. The organization is owned by veteran crew chief Bruce Cook, who took over majority ownership in 2020 after previously serving as the team’s crew chief. Across its four racing divisions, Cook Racing Technologies has accumulated 103 race starts, 1 pole position, and 2 race victories, with no drivers’ championships to date. The team continues to develop emerging talent while remaining an active presence in the American stock car racing scene.
Founding and Organizational Origins
The origins of Cook Racing Technologies trace back to 1998, when Jeff Finley partnered with NASCAR veteran Ken Schrader to field the No. 99 car at Salem Speedway and Charlotte Motor Speedway. Two years later, in 2000, Jeff Finley fielded the No. 82 car for himself, attempting to qualify for the first six races of the season but only managing to qualify for one. For more than a decade, the team remained largely inactive at the national level as the Finley family focused on other racing pursuits.
A modern chapter for the organization began in 2016, when driver Chad Finley, Jeff’s son, formed a part-time team in the ARCA Racing Series. Finley served as the driver and fielded the No. 51 Chevrolet in the team’s debut race at Michigan, where he started and finished thirteenth. The team quickly showed promise, with a strong fifth-place finish at IRP later that season. The operation was originally known as Chad Finley Racing, establishing the foundation that would later evolve into today’s Cook Racing Technologies.
Growth Into NASCAR Competition
The team’s transition into NASCAR’s national series began on June 20, 2018, when it was announced that Chad Finley would enter the summer race at Gateway, fielding his self-owned No. 42 Chevrolet. Finley started 20th and finished an impressive sixth, marking the organization’s NASCAR debut. The team returned at Bristol, where Finley started 12th but ended with a 30th-place result after an early engine issue. These efforts demonstrated the team’s growing capability at the national level.
On December 5, 2018, the organization announced that the No. 42 would run full-time in the 2019 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season, with Chad Finley, Robby Lyons, and other drivers splitting the ride. The team qualified 20th at Daytona with Lyons behind the wheel but fell victim to an early accident. The season included notable challenges, including a hauler incident at Atlanta that forced the team to withdraw from events at Las Vegas and Martinsville. Despite these setbacks, the team continued to build experience in NASCAR’s third-tier series.
Cook Racing Technologies Competitive Journey
Cook Racing Technologies has competed across multiple stock car racing series, beginning in the ARCA Menards Series and expanding into the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, the ARCA Menards Series East, and the ARCA Menards Series West. The team’s progression has been marked by gradual growth, technical partnerships, and a focus on driver development rather than championship contention. Through 103 combined starts, the organization has secured 2 victories, 1 pole position, and established itself as a part-time but consistent presence in American motorsports.
Early Seasons and Development (2016-2019)
The team’s first competitive years were defined by the Chad Finley Racing era in the ARCA Racing Series. After debuting in 2016 with the No. 51 Chevrolet, the team returned in 2017 and scored an upset victory at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, claiming their first win. This breakthrough provided momentum as the team prepared to expand into NASCAR national series competition.
In 2018, the team entered the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for the first time at Gateway, finishing sixth with Finley driving. The decision to run a full Truck Series schedule in 2019 represented a significant step forward, though the season was marked by logistical challenges. On November 21, 2019, Finley announced that the team’s Truck Series assets had been sold, with the organization shifting focus toward the American Ethanol Late Model Tour. This transition opened the door for a new ownership structure and the next phase of the team’s development.
Breakthrough in ARCA Menards Series (2020-2024)
On January 30, 2020, it was announced that the team would return and debut in the ARCA Menards Series East, fielding the No. 42 Toyota part-time for Parker Retzlaff. With Finley focusing on late model racing, crew chief Bruce Cook took over majority ownership of the stock car team, renaming it Cook-Finley Racing. Cook and Retzlaff had previously worked together at Visconti Motorsports in 2019, and the team also announced a technical partnership with Visconti for the 2020 season.
The team made its debut in the ARCA Menards Series West in 2021, fielding the No. 42 car for Tony Toste and Christian Rose. The following year brought the organization’s second victory, as Landen Lewis scored a win at Kern County Raceway Park driving the No. 42 in the West Series. In 2024, the No. 17 car was driven by Marco Andretti across the ARCA Menards Series, East, and West divisions, while the No. 42 returned to the West Series with Tanner Reif, Brandon Jones, and Spencer Davis. The team rebranded once again to Cook Racing Technologies, reflecting Bruce Cook’s full ownership and direction.
Modern Program and Current Direction (2025-Present)
In 2025, Cook Racing Technologies continues to operate as a multi-series part-time team, with Patrick Staropoli driving the No. 84 in the Craftsman Truck Series and the No. 17 in the ARCA Menards Series. Kaylee Bryson is slated to make her stock car racing debut in the ARCA Menards Series West at Sonoma Raceway, driving the No. 17. Spencer Davis drove the No. 42 car at the 2025 season opener at Kern County Raceway Park, while the team’s manufacturer relationships span both Toyota and Chevrolet. Recent Truck Series activity includes the 2025 Slim Jim 200 at Martinsville, while ARCA competition has extended to the Reese’s 150 at Kansas and the Desert Diamond Casino West Valley race at Phoenix.
On March 24, 2025, it was reported that Patrick Staropoli would return to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 84 at Martinsville. The team fields cars numbered 17, 42, and 84, and continues to develop drivers across NASCAR and ARCA platforms. With 103 total races competed and a growing technical infrastructure, Cook Racing Technologies remains focused on providing competitive opportunities for emerging talent in American stock car racing.
Philosophy and Competitive Strengths
Cook Racing Technologies operates as a part-time, multi-series team that prioritizes driver development and flexibility over full-season championship campaigns. The organization’s strength lies in its ability to field competitive entries across the ARCA Menards Series platform and select NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events, leveraging partnerships with manufacturers Toyota and Chevrolet. This approach allows the team to provide opportunities for a diverse roster of drivers while maintaining a lean operational structure based in Mooresville, North Carolina.
Key Milestones and Major Moments
The team’s first major milestone came in 2017 with an upset victory at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway in the ARCA Racing Series, scored by Chad Finley. The organization’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut at Gateway in 2018 resulted in a strong sixth-place finish, signaling the team’s readiness for national series competition. In 2022, Landen Lewis delivered the team’s second victory at Kern County Raceway Park in the ARCA Menards Series West. The 2020 ownership transition to Bruce Cook marked a defining moment, transforming the team from a driver-owned operation into a crew chief-led organization with a broader competitive vision.
Cook Racing Technologies Achievements and Results
Cook Racing Technologies has accumulated a modest but meaningful record across American stock car racing’s development tiers. With 103 total races competed, 1 pole position, and 2 race victories, the team has established itself as a consistent part-time competitor rather than a championship frontrunner. The organization has yet to capture a drivers’ championship in any of the four series in which it has competed.
ARCA Menards Series Achievements
In the ARCA Menards Series, Cook Racing Technologies has logged 48 starts and earned 1 victory. The team’s debut in the series came in 1998 at Salem Speedway, and it has since returned as a regular part-time presence. Chad Finley’s upset win at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway in 2017 marked the team’s first ARCA victory, while subsequent seasons have featured a rotating driver lineup and continued development of emerging talent. The team’s most recent ARCA Menards Series activity includes the 2025 Reese’s 150 at Kansas.
ARCA Menards Series East Achievements
The ARCA Menards Series East has seen 27 starts from Cook Racing Technologies, though the team has yet to secure a victory or pole position in the division. The team’s East Series debut came in 2020 with Parker Retzlaff driving the No. 42 Toyota, a season in which Retzlaff earned 5 top-10 finishes and finished fourth in the standings. The organization has continued to field part-time East Series entries in subsequent years, with Marco Andretti running five races in the No. 17 Chevrolet during 2024. The most recent East Series appearance came at the 2024 Music City 150 at Nashville Fairgrounds.
ARCA Menards Series West Achievements
Cook Racing Technologies has made 14 starts in the ARCA Menards Series West, capturing 1 victory and 1 pole position. The team’s West Series debut occurred in 2021, with the No. 42 car driven by Tony Toste and Christian Rose. The following year, Landen Lewis scored the team’s only West Series victory at Kern County Raceway Park in the No. 42. In 2025, Kaylee Bryson is set to make her stock car racing debut at Sonoma Raceway in the No. 17, while Spencer Davis drove the No. 42 at the season opener at Kern County Raceway Park. The team’s most recent West Series event was the 2025 Desert Diamond Casino West Valley race at Phoenix.
Craftsman Truck Series Achievements
In the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Cook Racing Technologies has competed in 14 races without securing a victory or pole position. The team’s Truck Series debut came at the 2018 Villa Lighting delivers the Eaton 200 at Gateway, where Chad Finley finished sixth. Following a hiatus after the 2019 season, the organization returned to the series in 2022 with Clay Greenfield attempting the No. 84 at Daytona. Patrick Staropoli’s entry in the 2025 Slim Jim 200 at Martinsville represents the team’s most recent Truck Series activity, continuing a part-time presence that emphasizes selective, high-profile events.