Jeff Gutshall

I started watching Winston Cup racing in earnest because of Derrike. I never heard of Cope before he won the Daytona 500. I was a casual NASCAR observer, and was watching when Earnhardt blew a tire, giving the second place runner the win. In the weeks that followed, I could taste the animosity toward Cope by the media and other fans of the big bucks teams.

Having spent far too much of my life at the local dirt tracks, I appreciate a good race. I especially enjoy when an under financed racer finishes "only" near the front. I recognize this feat as being more significant than a win by the team with all the backing. Which one is the better driver?

"DC" and Jeff I started yelling at Derrike (also known as the nearest TV) every Sunday to prove that his win was not a fluke. I could not believe that the sport's "experts" could not appreciate what it took to run well enough to take advantage of a slip or misfortune by the guy in first place. I was hooked. I found a home.

The Dover win that year was great. I was appeased.

Jeff and Derrike My inner need to support the unsupported has not been left lacking . I am disappointed that the announcer's booth does not spend more time on the "other" drivers in the sport. When I attended my first race at Pocono, my binoculars followed the #12 all day. I have tickets for another Cup race and will buy many more. I wanted to meet Derrike some day and I got my wish at the 1998 Winston Cup Preview.