KIRKWOOD, N.Y. -- Needing only to take the green flag to clinch the World Products Empire State Series championship, Kevan Cook took the checkers as well.

Cook scored his fifth IMCA Modified tour feature win of the year Sunday at Five Mile Point Speedway, putting an exclamation point on a season that saw him earn regional, state and two local track titles as well.

Scott Bennett, Christopher Fleming, Mike Wilmot and Gary Dence completed the top five in the 2009 finale.

Cook charged from the outside pole to take a lead that he would never relinquish, but staying at the front wasn’t it easy as he had constant pressure, first from pole starter Mike Wilmot and then from the fourth starting Fleming.

The front three went at it lap after lap before Scott Bennett joined the fray after starting ninth and working his way toward the front one car at a time.

A late caution put Bennett on Cook’s rear bumper and the race was on. Bennett tried everything and on the final lap the two hooked bumpers coming out of four to the checkers.

Both were able to keep their cars straight and finished 1-2 with Cook getting his first-ever Five Mile win and his third in the last four series events.

The Cook family had a great day as Kevan’s wife Jenny was awarded the Jan Billings Memorial Award for her dedication to IMCA racing.

Mike Wilbur came home in sixth and won the North Country Custom Rookie of the Race Award for the fourth straight race.

The series finale had been postponed from Saturday because of cold weather.

RESULTS

Feature results – 1. Kevan Cook; 2. Scott Bennett; 3. Christopher Fleming; 4. Mike Wilmot; 5. Gary Dence; 6. Mike Wilbur; 7. Brad Weaver; 8. Joe Cole; 9. Tyler Stoddard; 10. Jerry Lobdell Jr.; 11. Brandon Carvey; 12. Josh Sawyer; 13. Mike Stoddard; 14. Brian Holder; 15. Gary Roberts; 16. Michael Owen; 17. Larry Colton.

Final top 20 series point standings – 1. Kevan Cook, Constantia, 350; 2. Christopher Fleming, Union Springs, 309; 3. Jerry Lobdell Jr., Freeville, 298; 4. J.J. Courcy, Mexico, 255; 5. Mike Wilbur, Spencer, 242; 6. Tyler Stoddard, Binghamton, 228; 7. Howard Jones, Freeville, 217; 8. Lyle Smith, Elkland, Pa., 208; 9. Mark Griffin, Canton, Pa., 177; 10. Pete Neff, Newfield, 172; 11. Mike Smith, Arkport, 169; 12. Brad Weaver, Binghamton, 166; 13. Michael Stoddard, Binghamton, and Victor McNeal, Troy, Pa., both 149; 15. Gary Roberts, Afton, 146; 16. Jim Walsh, Chittenango, 145; 17. Sonny Terry, Towanda, Pa., 132; 18. Ryan Scott, Glenburnie, Ont., 131; 19. Ken Rogers, West Monroe, 127; 20. Ricky Hunsinger, Stevensville, Pa., 113.