Derrike answered fans' questions in 1997. You
can also read Derrike's answers to your 1998, 1999,
2000, 2001, and 2003-2004 questions.
- Q: What do you think of
Jeff Gordon, in terms of sportsmanship?
- A: "Jeff is a great race car driver. He has
never given me any problems; I like him."
Q: We have been big fans since we were in your pits at Watkins
Glen in 1991 and Pocono in 1992. Do you still stay in touch with Bobby Whitcomb?
- A: "No, I haven't really kept in touch with
Bob Whitcomb."
Q: We noticed in Winston Cup Illustrated that you were recently
in a recording studio (it's about time). What did you record, when will the CD be released
and where can we obtain a copy? - A: Derrike recorded two original songs written by
Lonnie Hillard and the CD will be released in about two weeks. Distribution has not been
finalized.
-
- Q: I watch all the races
and the media never seems to say much about you. They also never seem to do any interviews
with you even when you have had a wreck. For example, at Watkins Glen they never mentioned
that you were off the track and fixing a problem. Do you have any idea why the media maybe
ignoring you?
- A: "Occasionally, incidents happen
simultaneously and the media can't cover everybody in spite of their efforts. I just do my
best on the track."
Q: Do plan on going to an NHL game, since the Hurricanes moved to
the area? - A: "With my busy schedule, I rarely have any
free time so I doubt if I'll be able to attend any hockey games."
Q: It appears that the team peaked at mid-season and is now
starting to struggle a little. Can you contribute this decline to anything in particular?
- A: "In recent weeks, the SKITTLES® team has
pulled together and we've had some decent finishes. We have the best average finish of the
new teams in the past five races."
Q: Which of the tracks do you think is most challenging?
- A: "Bristol, Dover, Daytona, and Talladega
where you have to stay focused for so long. Those races are mentally draining."
Q: I was wondering, at super speedways you drive a high line. Is
that because of the car's setup or do you feel better running the high groove? - A: "Depends on the car. You usually want to
run on the bottom since that's the shortest distance around the track."
Q: With the advent of the new SKITTLES® team, does it seem like
your popularity is growing this year with demands for appearances and autographs?
- A: "Yes, I definitely have seen an increase
in the notoriety, especially with a new team. It's nice to see the support for the whole
SKITTLES® organization."
Q: Are you happy with your team as it is? Do you foresee any big
changes for the 1998 season? - A: "I am very happy with the progress of this
team. We are currently 25th in driver points and aim to be in the top 20 by the end of the
season. For a true new team, I am proud of what the SKITTLES® team has accomplished so
far this season. As of right now, I don't foresee and major changes for the 1998
season."
Q: At some point, there was mention that your team may run in a
truck race sometime during the year. Are these plans still in the works? - A: "As of right now, I don't plan on running
any trucks this season. Hopefully we'll be able to put something together for next
year."
Q: I see that there has been a change in team members throughout
the year. Is this normal for a race team and is it hard to find replacements? - A: "For a new team, there hasn't been hardly
any changes. Nothing out of the ordinary has happened as far as changes go. There are a
lot of talented people in the industry, it's just a matter of finding the right chemistry
for replacements."
Q: In light of the multi-car accident at Daytona, have you ever
been injured in a crash where you received major injuries such as broken bones? What are
the worst injuries you have received? - A: "I have never received any broken bones
during my NASCAR career. Just the few blows that leave you aching for awhile are the worst
injuries I have received."
Q: We noticed in Charlotte that several times you were drafting
with Dale Earnhardt. When you are a sole driver in a team (unlike the Hendrick's group),
how do you get others to work with you or share drafting in a race? - A: "Sometimes your spotter can talk to
another team and try to get some drafting help but most of the time you're on your own.
There is no defining factor, you just react to other cars around you."
Q: Have you ever driven an Indy car and if not, would you like
to? - A: "I have never driven an Indy car although
I would like to. I have no plans though to get behind that wheel."
Q: It seems like in the past you have had some conflicts with
Ernie Irvan. Can you pinpoint where the trouble might have started and is it getting any
better? - A: "Ernie and I basically keep to ourselves
and out of each other's way. I can't really pinpoint when it started."
Q: It has been nice that there's a large supply of Derrike Cope
merchandise this year. Some drivers collect their diecast cars. Do you save any diecasts
or any other merchandise of yours? - A: "I do get samples of diecasts and save a
majority of them for my collection."
Q: Some drivers have a motorhome at the track for their use. Do
you have one and if so, what kind is it? - A: "I also have a motorhome at the track. It
is a Prevost."
Q: What's the best thing about the new team? What's the worse?
- A: "This is a great opportunity for a
promotional stand point and I enjoy being able to meet new people. The only downfall that
I can see is the lack of testing. A new team doesn't get any extra test dates."
Q: Some drivers have clever names for their cars. How are your
cars named? - A: "We haven't named our cars. Basically, we
just know them by which track they're used at."
Q: What is your favorite music and artists? - A: "Having grown up in the 1970s, I enjoy
music from that era. However, I do enjoy listening to country music as well."
Q: Does your team use the same engine for qualifying and the
race? What happens when the engine blows up during qualifying? Is there an additional
engine to replace the blown engine? - A: "Like most other teams, we do not use the
same engine for qualifying and the race. If an engine blows up during qualifying, we just
replace it and hopefully make the second round of qualifying our best effort. We keep
several engines on the transporter."
Q: Does the Hendrick engine you use perform the same as the other
Hendrick cars? - A: "The Hendrick motors are great and have
given us some good runs."
Q: Since the SKITTLES® team is new, including the crew chief, is
there a source of reliable set-up info for you guys that may speed up the maturation
process of the team? - A: "I have some information from the past
that I've used the past couple of years. It's the crew chief's (Ryan Pemberton) ultimate
decision on what information he uses. Ryan also has access to his information from the
Busch series as well as his brother Robin from the #2 team."
Q: What is your all-time favorite movie? - A: "There are so many that I like, it's real
difficult for me just to pick one."
Q: Can you briefly explain how the money winnings from a race are
determined? I have seen drivers who finish worse than you but come away with more money.
- A: "Money winnings come from the track and
each place earns a certain amount of money. However, the additional money won depends on
various sponsors and programs the team belongs to."
Q: As you enter the pit road, how do you know you are under or at
the speed limit? - A: "We are told before the race what the
speed limit is on pit road. We then convert that to RPMs so I know how fast I'm
going."
Q: Derrike, I have been a fan of yours since your racing days in
the state of Washington. I have seen you many times at Evergreen Speedway. Are there any
plans for you or your show car making it back to your home state anytime soon? - A: "I really don't know what plans the
SKITTLES® team has for the show car. It's limited to the number of functions. With my
hectic schedule, I don't know when I'll have time to revisit Washington."
Q: I understand that Derrike and Renee have several horses. I'd
like to know the breeds and if Renee shows any of their horses, or do they use them for
trail riding and any other information they would like to share. - A: "We have a thoroughbred and some quarter
horses. Renee shows horses."
Q: Derrike, I know with you driving a Pontiac now, you have
driven for all of the three top car makes, Ford, Pontiac, and Chevrolet. I was wondering
what the difference was between each and how you've dealt with these changes. - A: "The Pontiac is more pitch sensitive and
the balance is different. But the team is pulling together and feel we can be real
productive this season in a Pontiac."
Q: How is the communication between you and Ryan during practice
and the race? Are you able to make adjustments during the race that make a difference?
- A: "There is constant communication between
myself and Ryan during practice. The team has been able to make the adjustments needed to
improve with each race."
Q: Derrike, what is the best part of the Pontiac versus the Ford
so far? P.S. How do you like those Hendrick Motors? - A: "The Hendrick engines are great. We
couldn't be happier with what we're receiving from them. The Pontiac is a little more
pitch sensitive than the other makes but with each race we are learning more about the
car."
Q: Derrike, I find the SKITTLES® team comparable to your
Purolator team in many ways. Do you feel the same or is the SKITTLES® team ahead of the
game? - A: "It's hard to compare the two teams. The
SKITTLES® team is new and everyone is real excited about this upcoming season."
Q: I was watching Motor Madness the other day and they had some
mud trucks racing, and the show happened to mention that one of the drivers is a favorite
of yours and Renee's. I was wondering if you have ever raced those trucks. - A: "We are looking into running a few truck
races this season."
Q: I saw where you will not be driving in the Busch Series this
year, but that you may be driving a race or two in the Craftsman Truck Series? Is this
still in the plans? - A: "We are still hoping to secure sponsorship
and run some of the truck races this season. Hopefully the first one will be in
Richmond."
Q: Who makes the decision on whether the team will requalify in a
second round or stand on your time? - A: "It's a collective effort on everybody's
part, mine, and Ryan's, and Jay's. The team looks at all the variables. We try to monitor
the guys that are practicing the next morning and accessing how quick they're going to go.
And then you access how quick you can go and you make that decision collectively."
Q: Is the problem with the car the motor or in the handling of
the chassis? - A: "We just haven't had any time to work the
balance out on the car. We just haven't found the combination in the car to make it work.
It's just something we're going to need some more time."
Q: I read that you tested in Richmond and the car looked real
good and then I read on the SKITTLES® website that you couldn't get the car working right
because of lack of practice. What is the difference between the testing and the practice?
- A: "We only had one day of testing up there
and the weather ruined the next few days of testing. We took two cars to the test so we're
trying to just shake down the cars making sure there's no brake problems, motors, and
things like that. You spend about half a day just sorting the cars out. The next half of
the day is spent trying a couple qualifying type runs where you have to cool the motor
down, block it up, tape it up, and try to learn about the tape on all the front orifices
of the car, the grill openings and the air ducts. You need a good three days to even start
to compile some data. And then in practice we had 45 minutes and the race track conditions
were different so obviously what we had from when we tested was not quite as efficient as
needed."
Q: Has the team sent the entry form in for the remaining races
yet in case it rains there too? - A: "They don't all come at once. They come
just a certain amount of time prior to the event and management takes those and gets them
in as soon as possible in case there is a problem. The main problem is the fact that the
first four races they go by last year's points. Once Atlanta is over with and we've made
all those races, then we get provisionals and you're pretty much going on this year's
points."
Q: What kind of car do you drive at home? - A: "I have a Pontiac Bonneville."
Q: Will there ever be a place where we can go to check to see
where you may be making a public appearance? - A: "We will try to keep you abreast through
this website of any upcoming appearances. I'm testing in Texas next Wednesday, Thursday,
and Friday (Mar. 12-14). And I'm playing in a golf tournament at Hartsfield Country Club
in Hartsfield, SC on the 20th."
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