NEW IPSWICH — Whenever students from the Mascenic Automotive Program participate in the Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills Competition held each spring at the New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon, they win the event, and the opportunity to compete at the national level.

This year will be no exception, according to Vincent Fittante, the instructor of the award-winning program, who said he expects to see his students once again win the coveted championship

“We’re training really hard. We haven’t lost yet,” said Fittante.

This time, he has chosen ConVal seniors Craig Cook and Rob Hicks to represent the program.

“It’s kind of an honor to be selected,” said the 17-year old Cook, whose father Glenn owns and operates Mush Cook’s Garage in Antrim, a business Craig plans on taking over one day.

“My grandfather [Mush] started it in 1978,” said Cook. The family business was later turned over to Glenn Cook, who, Cook said, taught him everything he knows about being an exceptional automotive mechanic.

Before he takes over the reins of his family’s business, Cook has some studying to do. “I’m going to be attending New Hampshire Technical Community College in Nashua,” he said.

Hicks said he is also excited about competing at the speedway in Loudon, and that he’s looking forward to displaying his mechanical aptitude — something he’s enjoyed doing as far back as he can remember.

“I used to take apart lawn mowers when I was a kid,” said the 18-year-old Hicks, who admits to having had an easier time taking them apart than he did putting them back together again.

“I had trouble remembering where everything was,” he said.

The Loudon speedway competition will open the door to the 2010 National Finals in Dearborn, Mich. in June, and allow Cook and Hicks the opportunity to win scholarships, savings bonds, trophies, jackets and power tools. That’s a bit overwhelming, said Hicks, but nothing he can’t handle.

“I feel the pressure, but it feels pretty good” said Hicks, who will be continuing his education at White Mountain Community College in Berlin once he graduates from high school. “I’m going for an Associates in Science for Diesel Technology.”

While this will be Hicks’ first competition in Loudon, it will be Cook’s second attempt. Last year, he competed as a junior, along with then-seniors Mike Lenox and Adam Minihan.

Although Hicks did not place in the top three last year, Fittante said he did exceptionally well considering the majority of his opponents were in the senior class.

Fittante said he is confident that both of his students will be victorious at Loudon.

“We don’t even know what car they will be working on yet,” said Fittante, who said Cook and Hicks can handle whatever car the judges choose for them. “They were picked because of their talent and their lab aptitude.”

In addition to having the opportunity to win prizes at the state competition, Fittante said the boys will earn something even more important.

“They’ll get bragging rights for their resumes,” he said, “because they were the best in the state.”