Derrike Cope

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Derrike Cope is a racing car driver in NASCAR. Cope is still well known for his win at the 1990 Daytona 500. In recent years, Cope has come into struggles finding a quality ride, but is still relied on as a test driver for up-and-coming teams. Currently, he drives the #74 Sundance Vacations Dodge for McGlynn Racing in the NEXTEL Cup Series as well as selected races for Jay Robinson Racing's #28 Ford and #49 Advil Ford Fusions in the Busch Series.

[edit] Beginnings

Cope, right, posing with a fan in 2004

Growing up in Spanaway, Washington, racing was just a hobby for Cope, who was a successful catcher on his high school baseball team, enough that he was recruited by colleges (Cope attended Whitman College where he played baseball) and major league baseball teams alike. But an unfortunate knee injury ended his hopes of big league glory, and Cope decided to devote himself to racing full-time. He soon made his way up through the short tracks in the Northwest, it wasn't long before he made his Winston Cup debut, at Riverside International Raceway in 1982. His #95 car finished 36th after getting an oil leak, and Cope won $625. Cope ran part-time in the Cup series after that, making a brief attempt at Rookie of the Year in 1987. In 1989, he hooked up with Bob Whitcomb to drive his #10 Purolator Pontiac, posting 4-top ten finshes.

[edit] 1990-1995

During the last lap of the 1990 Daytona 500, Dale Earnhardt ran over a piece of debris and sustained a tire failure in turn 3, causing him to nearly lose control. In his attempt to save the car from a potential crash, the second place car (Cope) assumed the lead and earned his first win in NASCAR competition.

Derrike also won a race at Dover later in the 1990 season, and wound up eighteenth in points. Following the 1992 season, Cope left the Whitcomb operation and drove the #66 Bojangles Ford for Cale Yarborough. The car was later changed to #98, reflecting Bojangles "98 menu items". Midway thorough the 1994 season, Cope was replaced by Jeremy Mayfield and began driving for Bobby Allison's #12 Straight Arrow Ford. During 1994, Cope won his first career Busch Series race at New Hampshire International Speedway, driving the #82 Ford Thunderbird for Ron Zock. The next year was Cope's best season, Derrike chalking up eight top ten finishes, and garnering a fifteenth place finish in points.

[edit] 1996-2005

Cope #49 leads Justin Labonte into the pits at the MBNA 200 Busch Series race at Dover in 2004, courtesy U.S. Coast Guard.

When Allison's team shut down after the 1996 season, Cope signed on with the fledging MB2 Motorsports operation, driving the #36 Skittles Pontiac to a 27th place finish in points. After one year, he was released and signed on with Bahari' Racing operation. Despite missing some races due to injury, Cope won his first career pole position at Lowe's Motor Speedway, although he failed to post a top-ten finish in the #30 Gumout car.

Cope returned to Bahari in 1999 with Sara Lee sponsorship. After failing to qualify for ten races, Cope was dismissed from the ride. After making sporadic appearances for LJ Racing and Larry Hedrick Motorsports, Cope signed on to the #15 Ford Taurus owned by Fenley-Moore Motorsports. However, Cope became unhappy when the team only ran a part-time schedule, and quit the team in disgust. He spent the rest of the year on the sidelines, before taking over the #86 R.C. Cola Dodge Ram at Impact Motorsports at the end of the season in the Craftsman Truck Series.

In 2001, he announced the formation of Quest Motor Racing, a team he would co-own with drag racer Warren Johnson. The team didn't qualify for a race all year, and his only start came with CLR Racing. He ran four races in the Busch Series in the #94 for Fred Bickford, posting a best finish of 21st at Bristol Motor Speedway. The team had mild success the next year, garnering sponsorship from Avacor and Poison. Cope also ran some races with BAM Racing that year.

Cope (#55) racing in the 2005 Gatorade Duel.

After 18 starts in 2003, Cope merged the team with Arnold Motorsports. After several starts, Cope was released from the ride, and as a result Cope took back his equipment. He ran thirty races in the #49 Advil Liquigels Ford for Jay Robinson in the Busch Series that season. His best finish came at Daytona, where he finished 20th. In 2005, Cope tried merging his team again, joining forces with Larry Hollenbeck and S.W.A.T. Fitness, but it soon disappeared after Cope failed to qualify for the Daytona 500. Cope has attempted a couple of races with Ware Racing Enterprises, before making his only Cup start of the season at Martinsville Speedway, finishing 33rd in the #08 Royal Administration Dodge for McGlynn Racing. After Royal wanted McGlynn to put Cope in McGlynn's regular ride, the #00, he was named their full-time driver.

[edit] Presently

In 2006, he attempted the full schedule for McGlynn, but soon cut back to a part-time schedule. His best finish thus far came at Michigan International Speedway, where he finished 34th. In the Busch Series, he has a best finish of 33rd at Dover International Speedway. He had his best start of the season(33rd) at Bristol.

[edit] See also

• The 1990 Daytona 500

[edit] External links

• Official Site
• Derrike Cope Career Statistics