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Andrew Holle |
I started following NASCAR, the sport of kings, in 2005 at the tender age of 19. It would be another year before I witnessed Derrike Cope place 35th at Michigan in 2006. I remember watching him valiantly battle with the big names like Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson, and I thought to myself, "That Derrike Cope doesn't show any quit. He seems like quite a role model." I also paid close attention to his runnings that year at Dover and Bristol. The next year I was intrigued to learn that Mr. Cope would be shifting from driver to owner/manager of several rides in the Craftsman and Nationwide series. I thought that his even temperament and calm demeanor would suit him well in this endeavor, and my belief was confirmed after Nick Turner and Kevin Lepage both had great years. I fully supported his decision to get back behind the wheel during the 2009 season. During that year, I had just turned 21 and moved out to San Diego for graduate school. As a new resident of a big city, it was comforting to know that my "Fave Racer" was born in San Diego. As the 2010 New Years celebration came and went, I found myself thinking about the new NASCAR season. I thought fondly of my racing hero Derrike Cope, and wondered what he was up to this year. Not knowing where to turn, I simply typed in 'www.derrikecope.com' into my web browser, and stumbled across the OFFICIAL Derrike Cope Fan Club website. Now I've done my fair share of Googling Derrike Cope's name to find out news and other interesting Cope-facts (did you know he shaved his trademark mustache in 2004, or that he was in a credit card commercial with the King, Richard Petty? It's true!), but never before had I come across an official, Derrike Cope-endorsed fan club. As I read all about his generosity (he donated his racing boots to some of his adoring fans a short while ago) and his intellectual ability (he served as a consultant for television broadcasts of NASCAR), I decided that this Fan Club was the perfect place for me on the internet (the perfect place for me in the real world is on my couch, drinking a cold one and watching Derrike Cope make all the other drivers 'Cope with it'). The reason I am telling this story is that I want other people to recognize how great Derrike Cope is, so we can all root for him this year. Cope with it! Cope with it! Cope with it! Andrew Holle
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