Scotts Turf Builder 300

March 21, 2009
Bristol, TN

Derrike informed us about the planned Nationwide racing for this weekend in Bristol. He said, "I will be driving for Rick Ware in the #41 car. Kevin Lepage will drive and race the #73 car for me this weekend. I am excited about our team's opportunity to race and represent a new brand at Bristol this weekend. Kevin qualified really well last year and we are optimistic to have the same type of results. We have worked hard on this car and engine and I know Rick and Del Markle will work with Kevin to have a very productive weekend."

Below is a press release for the sponsorship:
Pewee Valley, KY- Marketing company SOSi, Inc. announced today that it has secured a primary sponsorship on the #73 Nationwide car through TeamVangle and Derrike Cope Inc. for it's client flipNbags in the Scotts Turf Builder 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday the 21st. As part of the companies launch a branded show car will be placed on display along with a product presentation tent in the Pavilion area of the track; starting Friday night at the Food City Festival through Sunday at the Food City 500 cup race. The driver for the #73 Kevin Lepage will make autograph appearances along with special guest driver Jennifer Jo Cobb on Friday and Saturday. flipNbags is a line of totes and coolers designed for recreational use along with business products such as pda and notebook cases. The company has developed a lightweight collapsible back pack cooler that includes padded stadium seats, it meets race track size requirements and will be the featured item in the display area and will be for sale along with flipNbags t-shirts. Company representative Dale Clemons stated that he felt the brand has a natural fit in racing and looks forward to the brand being active with TeamVangle and Derrike Cope Inc. at other venues and possibly in other NASCAR series.

As it turned out, Rick Ware decided not to bring the #41 car so Derrike concentrated on his own #73 car driven by Kevin Lepage.

In the first practice, Kevin Lepage was 15th fastest with a time of 15.838 and speed of 121.152. In the second practice, Kevin picked up the time and was 11th fastest with a time of 15.680 and speed of 122.372.

In Qualifying, Kevin Lepage even bettered his practice times and had his fastest time of 15.582 with a speed of 123.142. At the end of the round, this put the #73 car in 18th position where he will start the race.

Kevin Lepage started the race in 18th position and finished in 36th position.

After the race, Derrike gave us an update. He said, "We had a pretty good weekend but it ended too early. We qualified 18th. We got a little loose but Kevin's experience showed through and he managed to get us in the top 20. We were a little too tight early in the race. The crew made a few changes and the car was coming around until we encountered engine problems. We broke something in the valve train or a roller lifter problem which forced us to park it. It is off to Martinsville next weekend with the Cup car. I will update you with my thoughts about that later in the week."