Derrike Cope
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| Born: | November 3, 1958 (age 48) | |
| Birthplace: |  San Diego, California |
|
| Awards: | 1990 Daytona 500 Winner | |
| NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Statistics | ||
| 2006 NEXTEL Cup Position: | 52nd | |
| Best Cup Position: | 15th - 1995 (Winston Cup) | |
| First Race: | 1982 Winston Western 500 (Riverside) | |
| First Win: | 1990 Daytona 500 (Daytona) | |
| Last Win: | 1990 Budweiser 500 (Dover) | |
| Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
| 2 | 32 | 1 |
| NASCAR Busch Series Statistics | ||
| Car #, Team | #49 - Jay Robinson Racing | |
| First Race: | 1990 Budweiser 300 (New Hampshire | |
| First Win: | 1994 NE Chevy 250 (New Hampshire) | |
| Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
| 1 | 8 | 1 |
| NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Statistics | ||
| First Race: | 1995 Fas Mart Supertruck Shootout (Richmond) | |
| Last Race: | 2007 Chevy Silverado HD 250 (Daytona) | |
| Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
| 0 | 1 | 0 |
| All stats current as of February 22, 2007. | ||
Derrike Cope is a race-car driver in NASCAR. Cope is best known for his win at the 1990 Daytona 500. In recent years, Cope has struggled to find quality sponsorship, but still test drives for up-and-coming teams. Currently, he drives the #74 Sundance Vacations Dodge for McGlynn Racing in the NEXTEL Cup Series, and also in selected races for Jay Robinson Racing's #49 Chevrolet Monte Carlos in the Busch Series.
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[edit] Beginnings
Growing up in Spanaway, Washington, racing was just a hobby for Cope, who was a successful catcher on his high-school baseball team--he was even recruited by colleges (Cope attended Whitman College, where he played baseball) and major-league baseball teams. But an unfortunate knee injury ended his hopes of big-league glory, and Cope then devoted himself to racing full time.
Cope soon progressed through the short-track ranks in the Northwest, and later made his Winston Cup debut at Riverside International Raceway in 1982. Cope's #95 car finished 36th there after developing an oil leak, and he won $625.
He ran part-time in the Winston Cup series after that, making a brief attempt at Rookie of the Year in 1987. In 1989, he signed with Bob Whitcomb to drive the #10 Purolator Pontiac and later Chevrolet, posting four top-10 finishes.
[edit] 1990-1995
During the last lap of the 1990 Daytona 500, Dale Earnhardt ran over a piece of debris and cut a tire in turn three, causing him to nearly lose control. After narrowly avoiding most of the resulting debris, Cope assumed the lead and earned his first win in NASCAR competition.
At Dover later in the 1990 season, Cope rallied for another unlikely win after running out of fuel and falling off the lead lap. At year's end, he wound up 18th in points.
Following the 1992 season, Cope left the Whitcomb operation--which closed down--and drove an originally unsponsored #66 Ford for Cale Yarborough. The car was later sponsored by Bojangles, and the number changed to #98, reflecting the restaurant's 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, after a brief stint with car owner T.W. Taylor. During this season, Cope won his first career Busch Series race at New Hampshire International Speedway, driving the #82 Ford Thunderbird for Ron Zock.
The 1995 season was Cope's most consistent. He chalked up eight top-10 finishes, and garnered a 15th-place finish in points.
[edit] 1996-2005
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 the Bahari Racing operation. Despite missing some races due to an injury, Cope won his first career pole position at Lowe's Motor Speedway, although he failed to post a top-10 finish in the #30 Gumout car.
Cope returned to Bahari in 1999 with Sara Lee sponsorship. After failing to qualify for 10 races, Cope was released from the team. He made sporadic appearances for LJ Racing and Larry Hedrick Motorsports, and later signed on to drive the #15 Ford Taurus owned by Fenley-Moore Motorsports. However, Cope became unhappy when the team only ran a part-time schedule, and quit 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, Cope 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 owned by 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.
After 18 starts in 2003, Cope merged the team with Arnold Motorsports. After several starts, Cope was released from the ride, so he took back his equipment. He also ran 30 races in the #49 Advil Liquigels Ford for Jay Robinson in the Busch Series that season. His best finish--20th place--came at Daytona.
In 2005, Cope tried merging his team again, joining forces with Larry Hollenbeck and S.W.A.T. Fitness, but lost the opportunity after he failed to qualify for the Daytona 500. Cope had 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. Cope was later given the team's full-time ride in the #00, as requested by the sponsor.
[edit] Presently
In 2006, Cope intended to run a full schedule for McGlynn, but soon cut back to part-time. His best finish was at Michigan International Speedway, where he finished 34th.
In the Busch Series, his best finish was 33rd at Dover International Speedway, and his best start was 33rd at Bristol Motor Speedway.
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Darrell Waltrip |
Daytona 500 Winner 1990 |
Succeeded by Ernie Irvan |
