Coca-Cola 600

May 26, 1996
Concord, NC

Derrike Cope started the race with a qualifying effort of 14th. At the beginning of the longest Winston Cup race, Derrike made his way up to ninth position. At the first green flag pit stop, he went into the pits in 11th and came out around 16th. Derrike eventually went a lap down.

On a restart after a caution, a big wreck occurred at the start of the lap. Derrike managed to make his way through without an altercation but a number of cars were not as lucky. On the race back to the line, Derrike tried to get his lap back by passing Jeff Gordon, but Gordon would not let him.

With Derrike still a lap down, he managed to keep up with the leaders for quite a few laps. But being a lap down, it was almost impossible to contend for the lead. If he had gotten his lap back and was at the back of the pack, the race might have ended a little differently.

Derrike ended up finishing in 14th, three laps down.