Texas 500

April 5, 1998
Roanoke, TX

(March 31, 1998) -- Derrike Cope sees it as only fitting that the NASCAR Winston Cup circuit is ready for its second annual return to the Lone Star State. After all, the luckless racing fortunes of the driver of the Gumout Pontiac are in need of a Texas-size turnaround.

Cope is still smarting from two cracked ribs sustained in a crash three weeks ago in the Primestar 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Despite the pain, Cope has gone the distance in his last two starts. He aims to again in Sunday's Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway.

While he's remarkably overcome the continuous aches, Cope hasn't been able to sidetrack persistent ill racing fortune. At Darlington two weeks ago, Cope had one of the fastest cars in the race. But contact from another car broke two wheel studs and Cope had to go behind the wall for lengthy repairs. Last Sunday at Bristol, Cope fought hard to stay on the lead lap for nearly half the race before a leaking left-rear tire slowed him and eventually cost him a lap.

Consequently, the Bahari' Racing team stands 33rd in the point standings. But owner Chuck Rider's camp sees reason for optimism.

"We really were fortunate to finish the Bristol race," Cope said. "There was a lot of stuff that happened in front of us. Maybe that's a sign our luck has turned a bit. We didn't get wrecked and we didn't finish in the back of the pack, so that's something to be thankful for."

Cope is at best on superspeedways, where his two career victories have come. At Atlanta, a track similar to Texas, Cope led four laps. He's also encouraged by the fact the team will take a Pontiac built in-house under the meticulous direction of chassis specialist Steve Leavitt.

"There's just more adaptability in the cars by building them from the ground up in-house," Cope said. "We debuted our first chassis at Darlington, and despite my situation, we were one of the fastest cars there right off the truck. These cars really show speed, and I'm convinced they're going to pay off down the road for us."

During NASCAR's first visit to Texas Motor Speedway last year, Cope had one of the fastest cars in the initial practice sessions, only to see rain wash out qualifying. Because he was with the fledgling MB2 Motorsports team, Cope started the race in the back of the pack. Quickly moving through the field on a perilous, tight superspeedway, Cope was collected in a multi-car crash that ended his racing day.

"I was running real fast in qualifying trim," Cope said. "The car was driving well in the race and I really thought we were going to be a factor. We missed the first big wreck and I was really counting on getting a good finish there, but it didn't happen."

Now Cope is again counting on getting a good finish -- and in need of one.

"Bristol was a lot tougher on me than I really anticipated," he said. "I'm struggling with it a bit. I'm kind of torn up inside. My ribs hurt when they touch something, and dropping the jack just takes my breath away. But I don't have the opportunity to sit in bed and rest for two weeks, and I'm undergoing therapy every day to speed the recovery process.

"If we can just turn things around at Texas. It's smooth and it's got good grip and we should have a good effort there that will turn us around. If we could get a couple of races in a row of finishing in the top-15, that's what this team really needs. That would get us back in the points chase. We'll just try and get the best we can out of it."

Throughout the tough luck start to the season, Rider has maintained his trademark -- incontrovertible belief in his team getting the job done. He remains adamant in that faith.

"I think we have the fire in this team," Rider said with a confident smile. "We just have to get that horseshoe turned around."

First round qualifying started late because of a number of accidents during the Busch qualifying. Derrike was the 7th car out and at turn 1, slipped on water that had seeped through the track, and crashed into the wall. NASCAR mandated that there would be no second round qualifying and those that qualified on Friday would have to stand on their times. Since the team had no time for first round, they had to hope that they could get in the show with a provisional, which unfortunately did not happen, thus missing the race.

FT. WORTH, Texas (April 5, 1998) -- Gumout Pontiac driver Derrike Cope failed to make the field for Sunday's Texas 500 after crashing and re-injuring his two broken ribs in a wet turn one during Friday's aborted time trials at Texas Motor Speedway.

Nine cars attempted to qualify Friday, during which Cope and Lake Speed crashed.   NASCAR officials decided to postpone qualifying until Saturday. NASCAR ruled that the nine drivers who qualified couldn't go again, which perplexed members of the Bahari' Racing team.

Seven drivers had to rely on provisional spots to get in the race, which are awarded by virtue of a team's position in the point standings.  Cope ranked 33rd in the point standings, and Speed, the last driver to get a provisional, ranked 27th.

"I'm obviously disappointed because even if I couldn't drive the car it deserved to be in the race," Cope said.  They didn't even give anybody the option (to requalify).  Obviously, the cars didn't go very fast (Friday), only a couple did.  I would have thought they would probably give everybody at least an option, but they didn't do that.  The race track was in no condition to go out and qualify."

Cope was in pain as he spoke about the situation Saturday, just before flying back to his home in Huntersville, N.C.  He broke the ribs in a crash in the March 9 Primestar 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.  Now, in an effort to completely heal his ribs, he and Bahari' Racing owner Chuck Rider have decided Cope will not run in the next race, the April 19 Goody's 500 at Martinsville.

"I've re-injured my ribs again," Cope said.  "Right now the're pretty sore and I can't make any moves.  I think I'm going to stay out of the car at Martinsville.  I'm going to see how I feel in three weeks for Talladega.   I think it's in the best interest of everybody to get out of the car for a little while and try to come back."

Rider said the team will try and get Jeff Green to drive the Gumout Pontiac at Martinsville.

"I think Derrike and I agree that we'll go to Jeff Green, go in that direction," Rider said.  "I think he'd be willing to do it for us.   He'll be back in his car at Talladega.  It's a matter of Jeff and Diamond Ridge (Racing) helping us out during this circumstance."

Jeff Cope was at Ft. Worth during the weekend and provided a live report.