Derrike Cope
Encyclopedia
Derrike Cope is a NASCAR
driver. He is best known for his win in the 1990 Daytona 500
. He currently drives the #28 Chevrolet for Jay Robinson Racing
in the Nationwide Series and the #75 Chevrolet/Dodge for his own team in the Sprint Cup Series.
and reared in Spanaway, Washington
. In high school, he enjoyed auto racing and baseball. He was a successful catcher
on the Bethel High School
baseball team, and later attended Whitman College
to continue his baseball dreams. While being scouted by major league baseball
teams, Cope suffered a knee injury that ended his hopes of a big-league career. He 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.
, 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. He became an overnight sensation as a result of the win, appearing on the David Letterman Show that week. 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, the Whitcomb team 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.
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 after a few races. 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 did not 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 driving the #37 Friendly's
Ice Cream Chevrolet, Cope merged the team with Arnold Motorsports
. Cope qualified 5th for the 2004 Carolina Dodge Dealers 400, but after several starts, Cope was released from the ride, and took back his equipment. He also ran 30 races in the #49 Advil
Ford for Jay Robinson in the Busch Series that season. His best finish, 20th, 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/Sundance Vacations/My Guardian 911 Dodge for McGlynn Racing
. Cope was later given the team's full-time ride in the #00, as requested by the sponsor.
, where he finished 34th. In the Busch Series, his best finish in the 49 car was 33rd at Dover International Speedway
, and his best start was 33rd at Bristol Motor Speedway
. He intended to run more races with McGlynn in 2007, but the team suspended operations after only attempting one race. He spent the season driving part time schedules for Robinson and Xpress Motorsports
.
In 2008, he signed to drive for Means Racing
in the Nationwide Series, but switched midseason to drive for James Finch and Jay Robinson Racing. Later in the season, Cope began entering his own trucks and cars in the Craftsman Truck Series and Nationwide Series. In the truck series he fielded the #73 and #74 trucks with Nick Turner and Jennifer Jo Cobb being the primary drivers, while in the Nationwide Series he fielded the #73 and #78 cars with Kevin Lepage
driving the #73 and
others racing the #78.
As the 2009 season approached, Cope announced he would be involved on all three of NASCAR's circuits, as he would pilot the #75 Cope/Keller Racing Dodge in the Sprint Cup series with BluFrog Energy Drink coming on board as a primary sponsor during Daytona Speedweeks. He began the season as the driver of the #41 Metal Jeans Chevrolet Impala
for Rick Ware Racing in the Nationwide Series, but was released after three races, and moved to his own team. He has also fielded trucks part-time for himself, Larry Foyt
, and Jennifer Jo Cobb
. Derrike has fielded the #78 car for one race in nationwide. He has fielded the #73 for most of the races.
In 2009, Cope attempted six races with his self-owned team; he failed to qualify for any of them. At the October Martinsville race, Cope successfully attempted his first Sprint Cup race since 2006 while driving for Larry Gunselman
.
In 2010, Derrike Cope teamed up with Dale Clemons as co-owners of new racing venture Stratus Racing Group
. The team ran a full schedule with Derrike as driver in both the Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series. It also ran a limited schedule in the ARCA Remax Series, fielding a car for Derrike's twin nieces Amber Cope
and Angela Cope
, who split the ride.
Derrike Cope has returned to Jay Robinson Inc. for 2011 in the #28 Chevrolet. For the 2011 Daytona 500, Derrike Cope attempted to qualify the #64 Toyota for Larry Gunselman with sponsorship from Sta-Bil. Cope finished 13th in the Budweiser Shootout driving for Gunselman. Cope has decided to field his cup car in select races with manufactering backing from Chevrolet
instead of Dodge
. In the 2011 Sprint Showdown, Cope was involved in a crash with Landon Cassill
, where he T-boned Cassil's car when he spun out. Neither driver was injured.
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
driver. He is best known for his win in the 1990 Daytona 500
1990 Daytona 500
The 1990 Daytona 500 was run on February 18, 1990.-Race review:Ken Schrader won the pole with a speed of . In the Thursday Gatorade 125-mile qualifier, he crashed on the last lap and had to use a backup car on Sunday. He quickly passed several cars at the start. By the first caution flag, Schrader...
. He currently drives the #28 Chevrolet for Jay Robinson Racing
Jay Robinson Racing
Jay Robinson Racing is a racing team that competes in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Currently, they field the #28 MAXelence Chevrolet Impala for Derrike Cope. Formed in 1995, they moved to the Nationwide Series in 2000, where they have attempted both full-time and part-time schedules.- Car #28...
in the Nationwide Series and the #75 Chevrolet/Dodge for his own team in the Sprint Cup Series.
Early years
Cope was born in San Diego, CaliforniaSan Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
and reared in Spanaway, Washington
Spanaway, Washington
Spanaway is a census-designated place in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 27,227 at the 2010 census. Spanaway is an unincorporated area near Tacoma, and is often identified together with the more urban, less wealthy Parkland....
. In high school, he enjoyed auto racing and baseball. He was a successful catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
on the Bethel High School
Bethel High School (Spanaway, Washington)
Bethel High School is located in Spanaway, Washington. It is Bethel School District's oldest high school, dating back to 1952 .-Academics:For world languages, Bethel offers four years of French and Spanish, as well as three years of German....
baseball team, and later attended Whitman College
Whitman College
Whitman College is a private, co-educational, non-sectarian, residential undergraduate liberal arts college located in Walla Walla, Washington. Initially founded as a seminary by a territorial legislative charter in 1859, the school became a four year degree granting institution in 1883...
to continue his baseball dreams. While being scouted by major league baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
teams, Cope suffered a knee injury that ended his hopes of a big-league career. He then devoted himself to racing full time.
Cope soon progressed through the short-track ranks in the Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
, and later made his Winston Cup debut at Riverside International Raceway
Riverside International Raceway
Riverside International Raceway was a race track or road course in Riverside, California. The track was in operation from September 22, 1957, to July 2, 1989...
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
NASCAR Rookie of the Year
The NASCAR Rookie of the Year Award is presented to the first-year driver that has the best season in a NASCAR season. Each of NASCAR's national and regional touring series selects a RotY winner each year....
in 1987. In 1989, he signed with Bob Whitcomb to drive the #10 Purolator
Purolator
Purolator may refer to:* Purolator Courier, a Canadian courier company* Purolator Filters, a joint venture of Bosch and Mann-Hummel, which distributes the Purolator brand of automotive filtration products...
Pontiac
Pontiac
Pontiac was an automobile brand that was established in 1926 as a companion make for General Motors' Oakland. Quickly overtaking its parent in popularity, it supplanted the Oakland brand entirely by 1933 and, for most of its life, became a companion make for Chevrolet. Pontiac was sold in the...
and later Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
, posting four top-10 finishes.
1990-1995
During the last lap of the 1990 Daytona 500Daytona 500
The Daytona 500 is a -long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is one of four restrictor plate races on the Cup schedule....
, Dale Earnhardt
Dale Earnhardt
Ralph Dale Earnhardt, Sr. was an American race car driver, best known for his involvement in stock car racing for NASCAR...
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. He became an overnight sensation as a result of the win, appearing on the David Letterman Show that week. 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, the Whitcomb team closed down, and drove an originally unsponsored #66 Ford
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
for Cale Yarborough
Cale Yarborough
William Caleb "Cale" Yarborough , is a farmer, businessman and former NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver and owner. He is one of only two drivers in NASCAR history to win three consecutive championships...
. 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
Jeremy Mayfield
Jeremy Allen Mayfield is a former NASCAR driver who last competed in 2009 due to legal troubles and an indefinite suspension by NASCAR. Prior to 2009, Mayfield drove cars for the Sadler Brothers, T.W. Taylor, Cale Yarborough, Michael Kranefuss, Roger Penske, Ray Evernham, Bill Davis, and Gene Haas...
and began driving for Bobby Allison
Bobby Allison
Robert Arthur Allison is a former NASCAR Winston Cup driver and was named one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers. His two sons, Clifford Allison and Davey Allison followed him into racing, and both died within a year of each other....
's #12 Straight Arrow Ford
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
, 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
New Hampshire International Speedway
New Hampshire Motor Speedway is a oval speedway located in Loudon, New Hampshire which has hosted NASCAR racing annually since the early 1990s, as well as an IndyCar weekend and the oldest motorcycle race in North America, the Loudon Classic...
, driving the #82 Ford Thunderbird
Ford Thunderbird
The Thunderbird , is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United States over eleven model generations from 1955 through 2005...
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.
1996-2005
MB2 Motorsports
Ginn Racing was a NASCAR Nextel Cup Series team based in Mooresville, North Carolina, which is near Charlotte. Its principal owners in its final season, 2007, were 80% Bobby Ginn and 20% Jay Frye. The Valvoline corporation co-owned the #10 car with the principal owners from 2001 to 2005...
operation, driving the #36 Skittles
Skittles
Skittles may refer to:*Skittles , a small candy made in many flavors*Skittles , the game from which bowling originated*Skittles , a casual chess game in chess jargon...
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
Lowe's Motor Speedway
Charlotte Motor Speedway is a motorsports complex located in Concord, North Carolina, United States 13 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina. The complex features a quad oval track that hosts NASCAR racing including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend and the Sprint All-Star Race...
, 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
Larry Hedrick Motorsports
Larry Hedrick Motorsports is a former NASCAR team. It was owned by businessman Larry Hedrick and always fielded the #41 Chevrolet in both the Winston Cup and the Busch Series. The team ran from 1990 until its closure in 2001.- Beginnings :...
, and later signed on to drive the #15 Ford Taurus
Ford Taurus
The Ford Taurus is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United States. Originally introduced in the 1986 model year, it has remained in near-continuous production for more than two decades, making it the fourth oldest nameplate that is currently sold in the North American...
owned by Fenley-Moore Motorsports. However, Cope became unhappy when the team only ran a part-time schedule, and quit after a few races. He spent the rest of the year on the sidelines, before taking over the #86 R.C. Cola
R.C. Cola
RC Cola is a soft drink developed in 1905 by Claude A. Hatcher, a pharmacist in Columbus, Georgia, United States.- History :...
Dodge Ram
Dodge Ram
The Dodge Ram is a full-size pickup truck manufactured by the Chrysler Group LLC. As of late 2010, it has been sold under the Ram Trucks brand. Previously, Ram was part of the Dodge lineup of light trucks...
at Impact Motorsports
Impact Motorsports
Impact Motorsports is a former NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series team. It was owned by David Hodson and Russell Kersh from 1997 until 2001, when it was sold to Phil Bonifield....
at the end of the season in the Craftsman Truck Series
Craftsman Truck Series
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is a pickup truck racing series owned and operated by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing...
.
In 2001, Cope announced the formation of Quest Motor Racing, a team he would co-own with drag racer Warren Johnson
Warren Johnson
Warren Johnson is an NHRA drag racing driver. He is the driver with the most wins in pro stock with 97 career wins, earning himself the nickname The Professor of Pro Stock.-Career:...
. The team did not 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
Fred Bickford
Fred Bickford is a former NASCAR Busch Series team owner.Growing up at the drag races with his father who was a 1970s Funny Car driver, Fred was introduced to racing at a young age. After a short driving career, Fred became an owner and crew chief. Fred owned the Number 94 and was also a partner...
, posting a best finish of 21st at Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961...
. The team had mild success the next year, garnering sponsorship from Avacor
Avacor
Avacor® is the brand name of a line of products designed for both men and women to treat hair loss. The Avacor Physician's Formulation® is the only Avacor® product containing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved drug minoxidil, proven to regrow hair...
and Poison
Poison (band)
Poison is an American glam metal band that achieved great success in the mid-1980s to mid-1990s. To date, Poison has sold over 30 million records worldwide and have sold 15 million records in the United States alone. The band has also charted ten singles to the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100,...
. Cope also ran some races with BAM Racing
BAM Racing
BAM Racing is a NASCAR racing team based in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States, owned by Beth Ann and Tony Morgenthau. The team began in the ARCA RE/MAX Series in 2000, moving to NASCAR in 2001 to 2008 before sitting out 2009 due to the economy...
that year.
After 18 starts in 2003 driving the #37 Friendly's
Friendly's
Friendly Ice Cream Corporation is the owner and operator of the Friendly's restaurant chain on the United States' East Coast. Founded in 1935 in Springfield, Massachusetts by brothers Curtis Blake and S. Prestley Blake, 20, their first shop served double-dip cones for 5 cents...
Ice Cream Chevrolet, Cope merged the team with Arnold Motorsports
Arnold Motorsports
Arnold Motorsports was a NASCAR Nextel Cup Series team owned by Don Arnold. 1983 Winston Cup champion Bobby Allison was the Vice President of operations and also served a consultant. The team debuted in 2003 as the #79 car , with All-Pro driver Billy Bigley Jr. driving, the team originally planned...
. Cope qualified 5th for the 2004 Carolina Dodge Dealers 400, but after several starts, Cope was released from the ride, and took back his equipment. He also ran 30 races in the #49 Advil
Advil
Advil is a brand of ibuprofen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug . Advil is manufactured by Pfizer and has been on the market since 1984.-History:...
Ford for Jay Robinson in the Busch Series that season. His best finish, 20th, came at Daytona.
In 2005, Cope tried merging his team again, joining forces with Larry Hollenbeck
Larry Hollenbeck
Larry Hollenbeck is a NASCAR driver residing in Kalamazoo, Michigan where he has designed, built and leased residential and commercial properties for 35 years. He has five Busch Series starts to his credit and fields the #71 S.W.A.T. Fitness Chevy in the ARCA RE/MAX Series.Larry Hollenbeck is a...
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
Ware Racing Enterprises
Rick Ware Racing the self-proclaimed "Biggest Little Team in Motorsports" has competed in every NASCAR sanctioned series, ARCA Series, the WMA Motocross Series, AMA Arenacross, Motocross and Supercross Series, Summer X-Games and Rolex Grand-Am Series since 2008 and is owned by former driver Rick...
before making his only Cup start of the season at Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway is an International Speedway Corporation-owned NASCAR stock car racing track located in Henry County, near Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved...
, finishing 33rd in the #08 Royal Administration/Sundance Vacations/My Guardian 911 Dodge for McGlynn Racing
McGlynn Racing
McGlynn Racing was a NASCAR racing team. Owned by Raynard McGlynn, they fielded entries in the NEXTEL Cup and Craftsman Truck Series before closing down in July 2007....
. Cope was later given the team's full-time ride in the #00, as requested by the sponsor.
2006-2010
In 2006, Cope intended to run a full schedule for McGlynn with #74 car, but soon cut back to part-time. His best finish was at Michigan International SpeedwayMichigan International Speedway
Michigan International Speedway is a two-mile moderate-banked D-shaped superspeedway located off U.S. Highway 12 on more than in Brooklyn, in the scenic Irish Hills area of southeastern Michigan. The track is used primarily for NASCAR events. It is sometimes known as a "sister track" to Texas...
, where he finished 34th. In the Busch Series, his best finish in the 49 car was 33rd at Dover International Speedway
Dover International Speedway
Dover International Speedway is a NASCAR-sanctioned race track located in Dover, Delaware, owned by, and serving as the corporate headquarters of, Dover Motorsports, Inc. It is co-located with a harness racing track, Dover Downs, and shares the complex with Dover Downs Hotel & Casino...
, and his best start was 33rd at Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961...
. He intended to run more races with McGlynn in 2007, but the team suspended operations after only attempting one race. He spent the season driving part time schedules for Robinson and Xpress Motorsports
Xpress Motorsports
Xpress Motrsports was a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team. The team won the Truck Series championship in 2002 and 2003 with Mike Bliss and Travis Kvapil, respectively. The team was owned by Steve Coulter until 2004, when he sold the team to then team manager Dave Fuge, who owned the team until...
.
In 2008, he signed to drive for Means Racing
Means Racing
Means Racing is a NASCAR Nationwide Series team. It is owned by former driver Jimmy Means. The team primarily runs without sponsorship, and fields the #52 Chevrolet Impala.-Busch/Nationwide Series:...
in the Nationwide Series, but switched midseason to drive for James Finch and Jay Robinson Racing. Later in the season, Cope began entering his own trucks and cars in the Craftsman Truck Series and Nationwide Series. In the truck series he fielded the #73 and #74 trucks with Nick Turner and Jennifer Jo Cobb being the primary drivers, while in the Nationwide Series he fielded the #73 and #78 cars with Kevin Lepage
Kevin Lepage
Kevin Lepage is a NASCAR driver. He currently drives the #52 car, for Jimmy Means Racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Lepage is the only NASCAR driver from Vermont to qualify for the Daytona 500.-Early career:...
driving the #73 and
others racing the #78.
As the 2009 season approached, Cope announced he would be involved on all three of NASCAR's circuits, as he would pilot the #75 Cope/Keller Racing Dodge in the Sprint Cup series with BluFrog Energy Drink coming on board as a primary sponsor during Daytona Speedweeks. He began the season as the driver of the #41 Metal Jeans Chevrolet Impala
Chevrolet Impala
The Chevrolet Impala is a full-size automobile built by the Chevrolet division of General Motors introduced for the 1958 model year. Deriving its name from the southern African antelope, Chevrolet's most expensive passenger model through 1965 had become the best-selling automobile in the United...
for Rick Ware Racing in the Nationwide Series, but was released after three races, and moved to his own team. He has also fielded trucks part-time for himself, Larry Foyt
Larry Foyt
Larry Joseph Roberds Foyt is a semi-retired NASCAR and IndyCar driver. He is the biological grandson and adopted son of A. J. Foyt, and a biological cousin of A. J. Foyt IV. His biological mother is Terry Lynn Foyt, daughter of A. J. Foyt, who divorced his biological father Larry Gene Roberds...
, and Jennifer Jo Cobb
Jennifer Jo Cobb
Jennifer Jo Cobb is a race car driver and team owner. She has competed in the NASCAR Nationwide Series along with the ARCA Remax Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. She drives the 13 Ford Mustang for her own team Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing in the Nationwide Series-History:She started...
. Derrike has fielded the #78 car for one race in nationwide. He has fielded the #73 for most of the races.
In 2009, Cope attempted six races with his self-owned team; he failed to qualify for any of them. At the October Martinsville race, Cope successfully attempted his first Sprint Cup race since 2006 while driving for Larry Gunselman
Larry Gunselman
Larry Gunselman is an American former race car driver. He has made a total over 100 starts and over 2 million in earnings in all three of NASCAR's top divisions...
.
In 2010, Derrike Cope teamed up with Dale Clemons as co-owners of new racing venture Stratus Racing Group
Stratus Racing Group
Stratus Racing Group a raceteam that fields NASCAR Sprint Cup cars for co-owner/driver Derrike Cope. Gary Keller and Dale Clemons also have a stake in the team Cope is the 1990 Daytona 500 champion. The team began fielding Cup cars in 2007 with little success. They have attempted some races in 2009...
. The team ran a full schedule with Derrike as driver in both the Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series. It also ran a limited schedule in the ARCA Remax Series, fielding a car for Derrike's twin nieces Amber Cope
Amber Cope
Amber Nicole Cope and Angela Christine Cope are professional NASCAR drivers. They made NASCAR history on October 23, 2010 by being the first twins to compete in one of the top three series in NASCAR. That day they made their NASCAR debut in the Camping World Truck Series in Martinsville, VA...
and Angela Cope
Angela Cope
Angela Christine Cope and Amber Nicole Cope are professional NASCAR drivers. They made NASCAR history on October 23, 2010 by being the first twins to compete in one of the top three series in NASCAR. That day they made their NASCAR debut in the Camping World Truck Series in Martinsville, VA. Amber...
, who split the ride.
Derrike Cope has returned to Jay Robinson Inc. for 2011 in the #28 Chevrolet. For the 2011 Daytona 500, Derrike Cope attempted to qualify the #64 Toyota for Larry Gunselman with sponsorship from Sta-Bil. Cope finished 13th in the Budweiser Shootout driving for Gunselman. Cope has decided to field his cup car in select races with manufactering backing from Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
instead of Dodge
Dodge
Dodge is a United States-based brand of automobiles, minivans, and sport utility vehicles, manufactured and marketed by Chrysler Group LLC in more than 60 different countries and territories worldwide....
. In the 2011 Sprint Showdown, Cope was involved in a crash with Landon Cassill
Landon Cassill
Landon Douglas Cassill is a driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series. He is a test driver for Hendrick Motorsports. He currently drives the #51 Chevrolet Impala for Phoenix Racing in the Sprint Cup Series....
, where he T-boned Cassil's car when he spun out. Neither driver was injured.