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Picture Gallery
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Adkison provided these photos and story from the program for the 1984
Stroh's 200 Winston West race at Seattle International Raceway. By the way,
Derrike finished that race in 5th position. |
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He's getting a second chance at being a rookie, another opportunity to start a new career. And he's determined to make the most of it. A one-time professional baseball prospect, Cope will vie for Rookie of the Year honors on the 1984 NASCAR Winston West circuit. Actually, the Stroh's 200 will be his 16th career race spread over four years, but this marks the first time he has taken a full-time interest in the series. "I'd never run on a road course before we went to Riverside, (California) but I'm confident we'll make a good showing at Seattle," Cope says. "After all, this is my home state. I have to do well here. "We're optimistic about the Winston West season. This is my new career - being a race car driver - and I want to be successful." If his brief foray on the Winston West circuit last year is any indication, Cope may not just contend for Rookie of the Year honors - he may vie for the Winston West championship as well. In four Winston West races last year, Cope led 159 total laps, third highest total on the circuit, even counting all the drivers who ran all 10 races. Cope led during three races, and had a best finish of second place (one second behind Ron Eaton) at Yakima, Washington, which Cope considers his "home track." The 25-year-old Cope is a native of Spanaway, Washington, and started his auto racing career in 1980 at Yakima. He was Late Model Sportsman Driver of the Year that season at Yakima and won his first race at Portland. |
That's when he met George Jefferson, who asked Cope if he wanted to drive his Grand National Ford Thunderbird. Cope leaped at the chance. "I think we've got one of the best cars in the country," Cope says of the Jefferson Racing T-Bird. "And we've certainly got one o the best crew chiefs." He is Jackie Johnson, a chassis specialist who used to work for Bud Moore, one of the legendary car owners on the NASCAR Winston Cup circuit. "Jackie's the guy to have," Cope says. "He's taught me a lot, and he does an excellent job setting up the car." Cope is so serious about being competitive on the Winston West circuit that he spent some time back East during the winter talking to Ford engineers. He also converses regularly with Ernie Elliot, brother and crew chief for Winston Cup regular Bill Elliott. "We get some parts from Ernie, and that's helped us a lot, too," Cope says. "Those guys back on the East Coast race fulltime, and they have access to the research and development things we don't have out here. I owe the Elliotts a lot." But had he not been injured in 1979, Cope would probably be playing in the baseball major leagues today instead of driving a stock car around Seattle International Raceway. He was a catcher in the Chicago Cubs organization when he suffered a knee injury that ended his baseball career. "I couldn't bend, and it's kind of tough to be a catcher when you can't squat," Cope says. "I knew my baseball career was over, so I came home with a cast from my hip down to my ankle and sat around for awhile. "Then I started going to the races with my brother. He had a Late Model Sportsman car, and I got racing fever. I traveled with Roy Smith (the three-time Winston West champion), Ron Eaton, and carried tires for (Bill) Schmitt at Ontario. "Then I started racing myself and did pretty well, so I knew I'd found what I wanted to do. I want to be a champion race car driver." |
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Derrike
Cope is a good looking, clean cut, muscular young man. A very fortunate
young man at that.
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