HT Motorsports announced today it had retained Close Finishes, Inc. to manage publicity initiatives for the team throughout the 2007 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season.

The team also indicated that Close Finishes owner, John Close, will serve as the raceday spotter for driver Terry Cook and the No. 59 Toyota Tundra.

"HT Motorsports is very happy to have an opportunity to work with John Close this season," said team owner Jim Harris. "John's many years of motorsports media and spotting experience will benefit the team as we pursue our goals."

Close, a 20-year-plus racing journalist and author, has specialized in Truck Series media and marketing projects since joining the division with Richard Petty Motorsports in 1996. Since then, he has facilitated a number of publicity projects for several top Truck Series teams including Hendrick and Ultra Motorsports.

Close is also a noted racing journalist contributing to several top motorsports publications including National Speed Sport News, Speedway Illustrated, Stock Car Racing and Circle Track magazines.

MBI Publishing released Close's latest book -NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series - From Desert Dust To Superspeedways - earlier this month. The book, which details the history of the series, is an officially licensed NASCAR product and part of the NASCAR Library Series.

An active NASCAR spotter, Close has called more than 100 Nextel Cup, Busch Series and Craftsman Truck Series events for numerous drivers including Rich Bickle, Bobby Hamilton, Jr., Timothy Peters and Jimmy Spencer.

"I'm really looking forward to working with HT Motorsports this season," Close stated. "They have all the pieces in place to contend for the Truck Series championship this season including Toyota Tundra trucks, a former championship-winning crew chief in Danny Rollins, and a proven veteran driver in Terry Cook. Best of all, Jim Harris and the rest of the HT Motorsports team are dedicated to excellence, both on and off the track. It's a great situation and I'm extremely pleased they invited me and Close Finishes to be a part of it."

The No. 59 HT Motorsports Toyota Tundra will open the 2007 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season Friday, February 16 in the Chevy Silverado HD 250 at Daytona (FL) International Speedway. The event will take the green flag at 8 p.m. Eastern Time and will be telecast live on The SPEED Channel. The race will also be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius Satellite Radio.

For more information about HT Motorsports and driver Terry Cook, please log on www.htmotorsports.com.