DieHard 500 Live Report by Val Bernard

Hi all! It was a great weekend for racing. Much better than last year when we had a monsoon! Got to the track about 8:00PM and missed the qualifying. Found out later that Derrike started 7th.

Saturday morning was clear and cool and by 8:15 cars were out on the track for practice. Derrike was in the second group to go out. He stayed out for a few laps and went back to the pits. When he came back out he was with the #3 car and stayed there for awhile, then passed and went on. Stayed out for awhile longer and went to the pits. I watched second round qualifying, and was surprised about so many names going home.

The Busch race was more of a smash up derby than anything else. One wreck sent a windshield to the stands injuring four people. One woman had to have surgery that afternoon! Only about 19 cars finished the race. The Kraft car didn't do too well.

Happy Hour went well with DC staying out ten or so laps before going in for a plug check. He was having trouble with the radio in the car and couldn't hear what they were saying to him. They found out the antenna wasn't plugged in and they went ahead and changed a battery in it. When he came out of the pits he did a long run, and said he was happy with the car.

Sunday was great. The day started off with the Army skydiving team doing stunts and bringing in the flag for the National Anthem. It was neat. The race got off to a good start with Derrike staying with the lead pack. Then he lost drafting help and fell back. He kept telling spotters that he couldn't get any help. The spotters were great and got him going back to the front. It was nice to see him running fourth!

Later one of the spotters told him he would talk to Earnhardt's guys and work something out for him. DC came back and told them not to bother cause DE wouldn't help anyone and he would use him the best he could and do it himself! The race had been clean and DC was doing great getting back up front and it looked like a top ten at least for us.

We all know by now what happened, the "Cope Curse" struck. His spotters told him there was a big crash ahead and were trying to guide him through it, then I heard an ominous "Oh s..." and knew he didn't get through. Due to the red flag they couldn't work on the car but had everything ready to when they went under yellow. You have to give the pit crew A LOT of credit for getting DC out quickly and with enough car to finish the race in good shape (22). Best of all Derrike said he was fine, a little sore but fine.

It only took us an hour and fifteen min. to get out of the infield this year, and only another half hour to get down Speedway Blvd. We were home in Miss. by 2:30AM and I actually made it to work ten min. early (7:50)!!! See y'all next race!