Pepsi 400

August 18, 2002
Brooklyn, MI

Derrike will be driving the BAM Racing #49 Poison Dodge this weekend for a one race deal. The car had the same Poison decals but was on total white this time.

In the first practice, Derrike was 22nd fastest of 44 drivers with a time of 39.063 and speed of 184.318.

Qualifying was rain delayed and once it began Derrike took the track as the 26th driver. His first lap was 38.815 and speed of 185.495 while the second was a bit slower at 38.840 and speed of 185.376. At the time the car was in the 18th position. At the end of the round the #49 Dodge was sitting in 33rd position.

In the second practice, Derrike was 39th fastest with a time of 40.914 and speed of 175.979. In Happy Hour, Derrike picked it up and was 30th fastest with a time of 40.724 and speed of 176.800.

The race is Sunday at 1:30pm EST.

Derrike started the race in 33rd position. The team took a gamble on the last round of pit stops to stay out and was in 5th position at one time. Later after dropping to the back, the car hit the wall and finished in 37th position. It was unclear to what happened since they never showed a replay of the incident.

Derrike told us, "As for Michigan things went fairly well. Obviously the late race incident with the wall hurt, but it did showcase the team and myself well."

Ken, a fan, reported this from the track: 
On the second last restart Derrike was really running hard on the old tires (and held off Tony Stewart for three laps by the way) and smacked the wall off of two and he thought he knocked the rear suspension over to left. After that the car was ill handling and he faded to the tail and hit the wall really hard in turn four and broke the right front rotor. 

As a side note, on the second to last caution, the car got stuck in fourth gear, but Derrike broke it loose and got it working again. Also earlier in the race he thought the motor blew, but it was okay. Another time the BAM crew got him out of the pits just in front of the leader as the caution was coming out.

Thanks Ken!