Our thoughts and prayers to David Cook and family. I remember many Saturday nights coming through the crossover gate, when our son was racing ,and Buddy asking me if "tonight was the night". He will be missed.

Jeff and Lori McHenry

What a tragedy. I was at the burg a couple of years ago when David won a feature. Quite a few folks congratulated Buddy and the pride he had in his son was quite evident. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.

Buddy has been a long time family friend. Every since I was a little girl I would always yell for Buddy just to say hi!!! No matter where he was, usually I would yell from the grandstands down to the pits at the old "Burg". I would see him and he could always hear my big mouth and wave his hand in the air and would say "How the hell are ya?" I thought that was so funny and couldn't wait until I was old enough to ask him that famous question once I was older. Which I have now for the past several years. Usually at the end of the night he would tell everybody, "See you fine people and Toni later!" Now at Union County Speedway he was always the first one to pull in and come in and have a seat in the pit shack with us. He would always have a good joke or something interesting to tell us while eating his pineapples out of the can!!!! We will miss him in the impound as well come auction season. He always would bring my little girl something from the flea market as well and she would always say "Thanks Budman!" He was a great man and friend to all of us and will always hold a special place to my heart. I will always think of him no matter what everytime I pull up to the racetrack! David will continue to make him proud I'm sure with some great future facing!!! Go Cookie Monster!!!!

Love,
Toni & Ashley :checkered:

As a member of the demolition derby world, please don't investigate, it was a freek accident and leave it at that. Prayers go out to his family, friends, and the fans that wintessed the tragic accident.

My mom asked me to post this:


Buddy Cook was a good friend. He was always there for me and my family when ever we needed him.

I have known Buddy and his Family for over 40 years.

He always looked out for me at the track I will miss him.

My thoughts are with David and Crissy, Cathy and his entire family.

I think everyone has a good story they can tell about Buddy.

His racing family will miss him!

God Bless all of us for knowing him.

Marty Wieck

Updated story from Cincinnati Enquirer today . . .

WILLIAMSBURG – A 61-year-old track official died after he was accidentally run over by a car Saturday night at the “Smash Crash and Cash” demolition derby at Moler Raceway, 2059 Harker Waits Road, Brown County sheriff’s officials said.

Buddy Cook of Cincinnati was pronounced dead shortly after the 7:30 p.m. chain-reaction crash when he went into cardiac arrest, said Brown County Deputy Chief John Schadel.

The preliminary cause of death was listed as multiple rib fractures and bruising of the lungs, said Brown County Coroner Tim McKinley.

Cook was in the area where the cars were smashing into one another and somehow wound up underneath one of the vehicles, Schadel said. AirCare was summoned, but it was too late to revive Cook.

“They immediately stopped the competition and people from the raceway and our office lifted a car up off him and got him out from under it,” Schadel said. “He was alert and talking to them. But once he was in the ambulance, he went into cardiac arrest. They weren’t able to revive him.”

Cook was a longtime official, supporter and friend to the local dirt track raceway, according to a statement on the raceway's Web site. He officiated demolitions in the Cincinnati area, Schadel added, and his son, David, also served as an official at Saturday’s derby.

The incident was a tragic accident, Schadel said.

“I don’t think there was anything reckless or negligent on the part of the competitors,” he said. “They were doing what the competition is all about. Unfortunately, one of the officials was out in the area and was inadvertently struck.”

Schadel didn’t know how close Cook got to the cars.

“He was down on the field with the vehicles,” he said. “I don’t understand why. That’s the way it was set up, apparently. I don’t know what kind of barriers were in place. Either way, whether he should or shouldn’t have been in there, that’s kind of a judgment call on his part.”

Kevin Moler, who owns the raceway, couldn’t be reached for comment today.

Saturday’s demolition derby was a benefit in part for Shriners Hospital.

I have known Buddy Cook for over 35 years. When I first started racing I remember going over to Old northern Ky. Speedway and talking to Buddy and Mike Johnson. That was when Buddy had the old red and white #21 Torino. Then Me and Buddy would meet after the races at the A&W down by the Burg after the races and all of our families and fellow racers would sit out at the picnic tables and bs till the early morning. I could go on and on and tell stories... Me and Buddy would talk about how we both thought it was so neat that our kids have grown up and are so heavily involved in racing and the passion that we have is passed on ...Buddy and David have also been good friends and so much a part of the racers auctions that we have done in the winter season... Traveling from town to town and working and playing together...Buddy was always the first one to the track at UCS and would ask me" what you need me to do tonight?' Buddy would do anything you asked him to do....And when we had time to bs or took the time Buddy was always good for a story or the latest scoop....I sure will miss the phone calls......
on behalf of our entire family here at UCS and TOM WIECK AUCTIONS our thoughts and prayers go out to David, Chrissy, Cathy and the entire Cook family... Tom Wieck
How do I define friend? 1 word "BUDDY "

My thoughts and prayers go out to all who loved him.

Dave I am very sorry to here about you farther he will be missed by all of us
my thoughts and prayers are with and your family. if there is anything you or family need please let me know

Mongo

I can't remember a time in my 36 years where I didn't see Buddy involved in racing. This has been the first year in 20 years where I was not racing at the same track as David every week. I have already missed some of his Buddyisms and cannot beleive he is now gone forever. I have definitely learned a lesson here lately about how quickly things changed. The last time I saw Buddy was about 2 months ago when I got to the track late and he was at my car talking to Dad and Bruce Gould. Who would of known that two of those gentleman would be gone by now. Its definitely important to appreciate the time you do have with people.

Thoughts and prayers from the entire Mugavin family.