RPM 2Night Interview

Derrike Cope: Well, I talked to all of the guys at Badcock on Wednesday, and they are all so excited. I think that's the sentiment at the race shop, too. Everyone really feels like there's an amazing amount of potential for this car and we're looking forward to Michigan.

John: So, you're taking the same car to Michigan for the Miller 400. How do you think it will handle there?

Derrike: I think it will run well. I think the characteristics of the car that we saw at Pocono, I think will show at Michigan. It's got great tendencies as far as trying to get directional cut in the corners, and its stability on the outside in the high corners -- which we have at Michigan -- will show itself.

John: Is there anything different about this car or the chassis -- or is it just like the one you've been running?

Derrike: No, it's quite different. My team has done a lot with angularity -- as far as the tubing is constructed. They're trying to use less tubing more effectively. They've also strengthened the car and made it more rigid. That way it allows the car to use the springs and shocks more effectively. They've done an outstanding job. The car gives me great feedback -- back to me, in my hands and in my rear end, and that's exactly what it takes to go fast.

John: Steve Leavitt came over from Terry Labonte's Hendrick team, and I heard it mentioned that this is just a Hendrick chassis. Is it just a Hendrick chassis?

Derrike: Well, it's got a lot of similarities, obviously, because of Steve. Steve had a lot of input into those cars over there, but he wasn't given the opportunity to do some things he wanted to do -- and we have incorporated a lot of his ideas. Everything they wouldn't allow him to do over there, he's done here and incorporated into this car. The car does have some drastic differences -- all of the geometry points have changed.

John: You used to build your own cars, didn't you?

Derrike: Yeah, I was involved with some guys, and we used to build cars. I got a little bit of knowledge about what's going on there -- obviously not to the extent of the guys now. At least now when they say something I have a better idea of what's going on.

John: Will they listen to you if you make suggestions about changing the construction?

Derrike: I don't really try to get too in-depth with those guys. They know what they're doing; you try to surround yourself with the best possible people, and that's what their job is. We let them do their job, and I offer input as far as what the car does. If I have an idea or two, they have listened in the past, and we'll try to implement it in the car.

John: How tough has the season been for you guys with a sponsor telling you they were going back to an associate sponsorship, and you've had some bad luck?

Derrike: So far this year I don't think our finishes have been indicative of how good we've really run. We've had a lot of problems with our braking and some wrecks. But with Badcock coming on board when they did, it's given us an opportunity to get out and showcase how good our team is and get our new car debuted -- a lot of positives. I think that we've run well with a car that we feel is deficient to this car. So we are very optimistic.