Derrike Cope Fan Club
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1997
Live Report

Goody's Headache Powder 500

August 23, 1997
Bristol, TN

 Goody's 500
Derrike Cope and the SKITTLES® Racing Team experience their first night race on a short track this weekend at the high-banked, half-mile track of Bristol Motor Speedway. Earlier this season at Bristol, second-round qualifying was rained out for the Food City 500 and Derrike started the race in the back of the pack in 36th but he didn't stay there for long and finished with a then season-high 16th-place finish. Running as high as 10th during the spring race has given Derrike extra incentive for a top finish during the 266.5 mile race this weekend.

"Bristol's a tough race but if the car responds well it's a race to enjoy," said Derrike. "The SKITTLES® crew and myself have been looking at previous setups and we're convinced that we'll be there in the end with a good finish. I'm ready to go at it and see how this race unfolds. The cement track at Bristol tests your stamina but I'm more than ready for the challenge."

"This team got a big boost from last weekend when we qualified and finished 16th," continued Derrike. "There's not as much pressure on the team and myself when you qualify in the top 25. I look forward to doing it again this weekend."

In the afternoon practice before qualifying, Derrike was the 5th fastest and he showed it in first round qualifying too. Derrike took the track as the 16th of 45 cars and produced a time of 15.664 and speed of 122.497 for a 5th fastest time. The second lap probably would have been faster when Derrike tried to "reach for some more" but the car got loose and Derrike fortunately saved it. At the end of the round he had only slipped four spots and will be starting the race in 9th position.

This is where Derrike was during the race:

  • 7th position - lap 20 of 500
  • 5th - lap 36
  • 9th - lap 50
  • 7th - lap 70 (after a good pit stop)
  • 7th - lap 100
  • 10th - lap 130
  • 10th - lap 170
  • 11th - lap 200
  • 8th - lap 225 (almost went a lap down around 220, but then hit Trickle to cause caution)
  • 10th - lap 258 (race red flagged due to major crash which involved Derrike)
  • 31st - lap 270
  • 34th - came back on track around lap 308
  • 33th - lap 400
  • 33th - lap 450

Derrike finished finished 32nd, 60 laps down. He also slipped another spot in the point standings to 29th.

"I felt bad for the team that something like that happened at Bristol," said Derrike. "The SKITTLES® team had worked so well together -- qualifying great and having superb pit stops. That would have been one of the best finishes yet."

Start Finish Status Winston
Cup
Points		 Money
Won		 Standing
9 32 Running 67 $14,780 29

Darrin Baird was at the race and provided a live report. Darrin's Live Report
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