Pepsi 400

July 6, 1996
Daytona, FL

Of the nine cars that were able to get qualifying in before the rain stopped proceedings on Thursday, Derrike Cope was sitting in seventh position. There was speculation that the cars that would qualify the next morning would get better times since it would be cooler. There were some cars that did get better times, but Derrike was only dropped back to the 17th position where he would start the Pepsi 400.

Before qualifying, Derrike stated, "I think we're a little bit off here with the Badcock Pilot Ford but you know, a good effort here, we'll go racing on Saturday, I guarantee you." He was racing pretty good during the race until engine problems forced the #12 car to the garage. It would turn out to be the second race in a row that Derrike Cope would be the first car out of the race.

At the start of the race, the car for some reason started falling to the back of the pack and ended up at the 26th position at one point. After the first caution, Derrike was shown in 23rd. Something suddenly clicked as cars were being passed and Derrike ended up in 8th position very quickly. Unfortunately on lap 63, the engine had problems and the team had to call it a day.

After the race Derrike said, "We've just got to stay optimistic about things. The cars are running great. We're running up front and showcasing the potential of the team. I'm just disappointed for our sponsor. It was another good run, we just had a motor problem. Something happened to the motor. It was a cylinder, I think. We'll be back next week."

Derrike did get to see some further action when he relieved Bill Elliott, recovering from an injury, during the third caution period on lap 101. Bill Elliott explained, "I told Mike (Beam, crew chief) that if we could find somebody to get in, let him go ahead and get in. The way it was, we were down eight or nine laps and there was no use to run on. Derrike could do just as good as I could."

Glenn Cope, Jeff and Bob's father, who was present at the race, was listening on the scanner when Elliott's crew told Derrike to just go out there and save some gas. During the remainder of the race, Derrike reported that he could pass some of the guys if they would only let him. The answer came back that they checked with Bill Elliott and he said go for it.

Bob Cope was live at the Pepsi 400. Check out his report of the weekend, including his meeting Derrike Cope.