Mark Lopa

I didn't start following Derrike Cope until the 2003 season when he ran the Friendly's car. Being from Connecticut, there are Friendly's restaurants everywhere up here, and it's one of our favorite places to eat. One night, we noticed a little display in our booth with the guy who was running the #37 Friendly's car. My wife and I decided since we enjoy Friendly's so much, we must start following the driver, Derrike Cope.

Just from the things we've heard in the media and several web sites, including this one, we've grown to understand what an amazing person Derrike is. I think it was fitting that he drove the Friendly's car, because he seems to be just that...a friendly person that anyone would be lucky to call a friend. I hope to meet him someday.

One of the stories that touched my heart involved the special one-race Friendly's paint scheme designed by 12-year-old Seneca Tedford of Lebanon, CT, which is just a few short miles from my home. But it wasn't so much that he took the time to visit Seneca at her school and go to New Hampshire with the car, but what he did at Dover. Derrike did not qualify to race in New Hampshire and Seneca was undoubtedly disappointed. Then I found out that Derrike decided to run the car at the next race in Dover, which he was not originally going to run, so Seneca could have another chance to see the car she designed run a race. Derrike ran this race out of his own pocket, as the race at New Hampshire was the last one for Friendly's as a primary sponsor. Good things happen to good people, because Derrike did indeed make the race and Seneca's paint scheme was in the big show for everyone to enjoy.

I look forward to following Derrike in his years to come in the Nextel Cup Series and am very proud to call myself a Derrike Cope fan. Any fellow fan that would like to e-mail me, please do so at captain59@yahoo.com. GOOD LUCK DERRIKE!