Mike Cope
Encyclopedia
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 became famous during the mid-1990s one of the best drivers in the Slim Jim All-Pro Series. In the late-90s he started a five year tour in the high levels of NASCAR
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...
. He was born in Pinellas Park, Florida
Pinellas Park, Florida
Pinellas Park is a city located in central Pinellas County, Florida. The population was 45,658 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 47,166 . The city was founded by Philadelphia publisher, F. A...
, and is no relation to Derrike Cope
Derrike Cope
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.-Early years:Cope was born in San Diego, California...
.
Slim Jim All Pro Series
Mike began a long lived and successful career in NASCAR touring series in 1989. He won two Series Championships in 1994 and 1996. He was voted by his piers as the most popular driver three times. He won the prestigious Winchester 400Winchester 400
The Winchester 400 is a 400-lap short-track stock car race held each fall at the Winchester Speedway, approximately east of Indianapolis, Indiana. Held annually since 1970, the race has served as a launching point for the careers of several young drivers including former winners Rusty Wallace and...
three years in a row, 1993-1995.
Busch Series
Cope made his Busch SeriesBusch Series
The NASCAR Nationwide Series is a stock car racing series owned and operated by the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. It is promoted as NASCAR's "minor league" circuit, and is a proving ground for drivers who wish to step up to the organization's "big leagues"; the Sprint Cup circuit...
debut in 1996, racing at the Milwaukee Mile
Milwaukee Mile
The Milwaukee Mile is a -long oval race track in West Allis, Wisconsin that seats about 40,000 spectators. It operated as a dirt track until 1953. The track was paved in 1954....
. He ran the #58 Penrose
Penrose
-Places:* Penrose, Arlington, Virginia, a neighborhood in the United States* Penrose, Colorado, a town in the United States* Penrose, Padstow, a small village in north Cornwall, England, with a World War II base near it...
Chevy and started in the 34th position. He ran all but 3 laps and finished 25th.
Cope ran in the All-Pro Series 1997, then returned to the Busch Series in 1998. He made 17 races for a new team, the #30 Slim Jim
Slim Jim
Slim Jim is a brand of meat snacks or dried sausage manufactured by ConAgra Foods, Inc. They are popular in the United States. More than 500 million are produced annually in at least 20 varieties. The Slim Jim itself has been transformed in the years since Adolph Levis invented it in 1928...
Chevy owned by Team 34. Cope was able to qualify for all but one of his starts for the team, but he did not run well. His only lead lap finishes were a 7th at Hickory and a 9th at Pikes Peak
Pikes Peak International Raceway
Pikes Peak International Raceway, also known as PPIR, is a participant focused racetrack located in Fountain, Colorado, south of Colorado Springs and north of Pueblo...
. Finally, after a 31st at Myrtle Beach
Myrtle Beach Speedway
The Myrtle Beach Speedway, originally named Rambi Raceway, was built in 1958 and is located on U.S. Route 501 near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.The speedway is a semi-banked asphaltic oval track that spans...
, Cope was released with 2 top-10s but 6 DNFs to his credit in 17 starts. He was replaced by Todd Bodine
Todd Bodine
Todd Bodine is a NASCAR driver. Todd is the younger brother of former racers Geoff Bodine and Brett Bodine. Bodine is known for his bald head, which has given him the nickname The Onion...
. Cope did not make any more starts in 1998 and finished 40th in points.
Craftsman Truck Series
Cope made six starts in 1997, driving for Billy Ballew MotorsportsBilly Ballew Motorsports
Billy Ballew Motorsports is a team that competes in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. They were formed in 1996 by Georgia businessman Billy Ballew. They currently field the #51 Bullet Liner F-150 for Colin Braun.- Fasscore Motorsports :...
. He made his series debut at Homestead-Miami
Homestead-Miami Speedway
Homestead-Miami Speedway is a race track in Homestead, Florida southwest of Miami.Since 2002 Homestead has hosted the final races of the season in all three of NASCAR's series: the Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series, and the Camping World Truck Series...
. He started 27th and finished 22nd despite not finishing the race with engine problems. Cope struggled in the other 5 starts, not finishing three of them. However, his best race was the last. He finished 12th at NHIS
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...
. His best start in 1997 was Milwaukee Mile
Milwaukee Mile
The Milwaukee Mile is a -long oval race track in West Allis, Wisconsin that seats about 40,000 spectators. It operated as a dirt track until 1953. The track was paved in 1954....
where he started 23rd.
Cope went Busch racing in 1998, but returned in 1999, making one start at Las Vegas
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Las Vegas Motor Speedway, located in Clark County, Nevada near Las Vegas, is a complex of multiple tracks for automobile racing. The complex is owned by Speedway Motorsports, Inc., which is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.-History:...
. Driving the #15 Manheim Auctions
Manheim Auctions
Manheim, Inc. is an automobile auction company. It is the largest one in the world by volume of trade. As a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, Inc., Manheim provides services including financing, title work, transportation, recovery, auto body repair, dealership management systems, dent repair and...
Ford, Cope started 30th and ran a solid 14th, completing all but two laps.
Cope earned a ride in 2000 to replace Stacy Compton
Stacy Compton
Stacy Compton is a NASCAR team owner and former driver. He currently owns Turn One Racing. He is a former co-owner of Bobby Hamilton Racing-Virginia in the Craftsman Truck Series, and is a former racing analyst for ESPN full-time...
in 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 :...
Ford for 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....
. The team had been solid, but Cope struggled with the team. His best run was the first race of the season at Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, one of the most prestigious races in NASCAR. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, Grand-Am and Motocross...
, where Cope finished 12th. He also added on a 15th at Miami. However, it went downhill afterwards, and after Cope did not show up for the seventh race of the season, he was released in favor of Scott Riggs
Scott Riggs
Russell Scott Riggs is a NASCAR driver. He currently drives the #81 Dodge Charger for Whitney Motorsports in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.-Early career:...
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Team Owner
Mike went American Speed AssociationAmerican Speed Association
The American Speed Association is a sanctioning body of motorsports in the United States formed in 1968. The Association was based in Pendleton, Indiana and currently is headquarters in Daytona Beach, Florida. ASA was most famous for a national touring series which began in 1973 but was...
racing in 2000 and build his own cars and he ran a self sustained race team out of his Hudson, FL shop. Mike drove the #25 Florida Manheim's Auto Auction Chevrolet. Mike had a long relationship with Manheim's as his sponsor. He build and drove his own cars until he retired in 2005 to focus on his son Travis' racing career. Mike continues to own and operate Mike Cope Racing. He and Travis fabricate and build Super Late Models and SCCA cars. He travels as a crew chief for both his sons late model team, and a crew chief for florida based SCCA drivers.