Bud Shootout / Daytona 500

February 7 & 14, 1999
Daytona Beach, FL

(Feb. 2, 1999) -- It's been nine years since Derrike Cope's shocking victory in the Daytona 500, but he remembers his crowning achievement as if it were yesterday.

On that magical day in 1990, Cope ran right on leader Dale Earnhardt's bumper. On the final lap, Earnhardt cut a tire when he ran over some debris in turn three, allowing Cope to pass him for the win.

"It's beyond compare," Cope said of the win. "I can close my eyes right now and still feel the sun on my face from being in victory lane. That's how much of an impact a Daytona 500 win has on you. It never leaves you."

Cope is looking for more Daytona sunshine when he debuts the Jimmy Dean Pontiac in qualifying for the "Great American Race" Saturday at Daytona International Speedway. Cope will also compete in Sunday's Bud Shootout, courtesy of his first career pole earned at Charlotte Motor Speedway last October.

Cope is embarking on his second season with car owner Chuck Rider's Bahari' Racing team. Cope will enjoy a unique rotating sponsorship with Jimmy Dean, Bryan, State Fair and Rudy's Farm as the primary backers. He also has a new crew chief in Dan Glauz, who helped Mike Skinner to the 1997 Daytona 500 pole as a chassis specialist.

"Everything is going well," Cope said of the team's makeover. "We've got a feel for where we need to be. The crew is working well together. Dan and I have established a good rapport. I'm pleased with our tests at Daytona and Talladega. The limiting of the test sessions from three days to two really makes you expedite your processes and be very organized. But I feel good about the tendencies I've seen in the cars."

Cope carved his niche in NASCAR history with his Daytona 500 triumph. Many naysayers in the garage area categorize his victory as a fluke, but Cope points to the fact that he drove a patient race that enabled him to take advantage of another driver's misfortune. Races are often won in that manner.

"I don't get tired of talking about that win," Cope said. "Obviously, the light in which I have to talk about it sometimes bothers me. I don't think I was ever given a lot of respect for what I did. Everybody has their own view on things. The way I look at it is that we were really fast that day and I protected myself. I don't really have a problem talking about it. I really enjoy what we did and the fashion in which we did it."

Cope believes Sunday's Bud Shootout provides the team with an opportunity to get a headstart on preparing for the Daytona 500.

"Obviously, the opportunity to be on the race track in a drafting mode and trying to find out what your needs are going to be gets you ahead of the ballgame," Cope said. "It gives you some time in the draft and prepares you for the 125s. A good finish in that race can really improve your starting spot in the 500."

Cope had a strong car in last year's Daytona 500. Midway through the race he was running second to Earnhardt. But Cope was collected in a freak pit road accident not of his making that ruined any chances of another Daytona upset.

"The car was exceptionally fast," Cope said. "I felt like it was the fastest car on the race track. I don't think if push had come to shove that Dale would have had anything for me, or Bobby Labonte. I rode the brake behind Labonte the whole way. I passed Dale once and then elected to stay behind him so we could pit together and then we got hit on pit road. I felt our car was the best one there last year. If we can go back and be equal to what we were last year, we can be in position to win the race."

Thursday, February 4

In the lottery drawing, Derrike was selected to start the Bud Shootout in 5th position. RealAudio of Derrike's Drawing

Friday, February 5

NASCAR Online had a photo of the Jimmy Dean Pontiac in the garage. In the first practice on Friday, February 5th, Derrike was 49th fastest of 55 drivers with a time of 47.870 and speed of 188.009. In the second practice the same day he was 43rd fastest of 53 drivers with a time of 47.596 and speed of 189.092.

Derrike Cope commented on the Bud Shootout, "After healing up over the winter time and getting to work with the new guys we have at the shop, we’re obviously excited about coming into 1999. We’re showcasing some great sponsors in Jimmy Dean, Rudy’s Farm, State Fair and Bryan Foods. It’s a unique opportunity for us. Here we’ll showcase Team Jimmy Dean. We’re looking forward to the Bud Shootout. It’s a tremendous race. I’ve always been on the sideline watching it before and to win my first pole and be in it legitimately is very exciting. These guys put on a great show every year and it’s going to be nice to be a part of that."

Saturday, February 6

In first row qualifying Derrike qualified in 37th position with a time of 472.13 and speed of 190.625.

After qualifying Derrike said, "It’s obvious we’ve got some work to do. But I’m not too disappointed though because that’s the fastest we’ve run since we’ve been here. We’re going to look at some things, probably lease a motor and do some other things and get ready to go again Monday. We’ll try and get a good speed for the 125s."

Monday, February 8

In practice, Bahari' Racing leased an engine from Sabco to try and improve their second round qualifying time. Derrike said during practice, "We have Sterling Marlin's motor in there right now. The guys at Felix Sabates and all the guys at Sabco worked really hard to get this motor in this car. We're a little faster than we were yesterday with a lot different conditions with the wind blowing a lot harder. We're going to put everything to it and see if we can't get this thing into the 46's and try to run a 46.80 or something like that and get a little better speed going into the 125's. I've got to hand it to Sabco. The car's a little faster than we were with our own stuff so we're going to go at it and see what happens and then we'll go on into the 125's."

Eight drivers attempted second round qualifying. Derrike was third fastest of the drivers with a time of 46.836 and speed of 192.160, which put them 31st best in qualifying. After qualifying, Derrike responded to the effort, "Not as much as we needed. Obviously you needed to run what Marcus run to probably put yourself in a pretty good position, and we were a tenth off of that. It was better. The Sabco motor ran good. We increased our speed but we're going to have to go to the 125's and start behind all the cars that didn't go today, so that will be a little bit more difficult for the team Jimmy Dean, but we'll be all right. I've been through this a number of times. I've never really had a car other than last year that would really race it's way in as far as speed. So it's nothing new to me. We'll just go out and draft our way to the front, get ourselves in the race, and everything will be fine and dandy come Friday."

Tuesday, February 9

In morning practice, Derrike was 10th fastest of 58 drivers with a time of 48.698 and speed of 190.863.

Wednesday, February 10

In the last practice before the Twin 125's, Derrike was 37th fastest with a time of 48.943 and speed of 189.525.

Thursday, February 11

Derrike finished 10th in the second Gatorade Twin 125 qualifying race. This secured a spot in the Daytona 500 starting in 20th. NASCAR Online had a photo of Derrike in the race.

After the race, Derrike said, "I've got to thank Ricky Craven and Rich Bickle. We bumped and pushed each other through the draft and we just hung together there. Rich stayed right behind me there at the end and it took a bunch of teamwork on all our parts. The cars wouldn't quite run by themselves and it worked out for us. We're very fortunate, Jimmy Dean and everyone involved.

"Trickle got me loose and I tried to get him to stay with me. He got me loose and I went by Brett down there and Brett took the air off me and Trickle tried to run me up and get me out of the throttle. He didn't get me out of the throttle, he got himself out.

"My car started to push a little and I started to put a little bit too much wheel to it. I was trying not to, but when you get side-by-side you have to stay down on them to keep the air on the other cars and I was having to put a lot of wheel to the car and the car was getting tighter and tighter. I was fortunate I had Ricky and Rich behind me. They were leaning on me and keeping me pretty free because I was running the high lane right up in the dust. The car was turning up there for me and that's why I stayed up there and then come down to them when I had a chance. Bobby Hamilton was great. He stuck with me and he knew when I had to go high and he'd move up in front of me and I wasn't going to try and get him out of line or nothing. It worked well for us. We worked hard together early. He and I stuck together and ran a pack back down. That's what it takes sometimes."

YOU WERE CONFIDENT THIS MORNING. "Yeah, I felt pretty good about it. You always have reservations going in. You always have reservations because you don't know what variables enter into it. I felt confident I could run up through there. I was willing to work with some people early to be patient and I was. I was working with Sauter and Marcis and some of those guys and they went to the bottom and it kind of took away from the gameplan. That's when I started to try and make some moves. I found the 4 car there and when I got to him we were able to stay pretty close. Bobby and I have worked together for a long time. I'm pretty confident when he says he's going to do something he's going to do it. We stuck it out and late when I needed the help, I had some strong guys on the bottom there and I got Rich and Ricky behind me there and they helped push me by. My car was starting to tighten up."

TALK ABOUT THE SENSE OF RELIEF. "You're down here for so many days and it's all building up to this Thursday event. You try to come down and be patient and calm and try not to get on edge. But then you have problems with the Busch car, and problems with our car qualifying, you start the twin dead last and all those things build up on you. You got to go back into it and go back and do all you can do. Fortunately, the car and the motor ran good. We still have a lot of work to do. We did what we had to accomplish for Sara Lee. We don't have just one sponsor to worry about. We have four in Jimmy Dean, Bryan, State Fair, and Rudy's Farm. We've got to go to a Saturday night dinner and take care of all those people. That's a big weight on your shoulders when you're out there driving, so you drive with a lot more heart and a lot more desire."

Bud Shootout

Derrike started the Bud Shootout in 5th position. This is where he was among the 15 drivers:

• 1st lap he got caught in the middle and shuffled to the back.
• 15th position - lap 3 of 25
• 11th - lap 5
• 12th - lap 7
• Pit stops occurred. We did not get the chance to see how Derrike's was because we had to watch Jeff Gordon's problems the entire time. The pit stop must not have been fast though because Derrike was one of the last coming out of the pits.
• 10th - lap 11
• 13th - lap 12

Derrike finished the race in 13th position.

After the race, Derrike said, "That wasn’t a lot of fun. The car just felt a little bogged down. Nobody could go with me at the start and I was pushed to the middle of the track and you don’t want to be there with cars on either side of you. There’s nobody to draft with and you fall back. We could race with some cars back there, but that start was just too much to overcome in such a short race."

Gatorade Twin 125

The team changed engines one hour before the qualifying race. Derrike started the second Gatorade Twin 125 race in 27th position. This is where he was during the race:

• 25th position - lap 2 of 50
• 23rd - lap 9
• 16th - lap 21
• 13th - lap 30
• 12th - lap 31
• 10th - lap 41

Derrike finished the race in 10th position allowing him to qualify for the Daytona 500.

Daytona 500

Derrike started the Daytona 500 in 20th position. This is where he was during the race among the 43 drivers:

• 17th position - lap 5 of 200
• 14th - lap 21
• 25th - lap 40
• 32nd - lap 43
• 41st - lap 49 (We got the word that around lap 46 Derrike had to pit because of a cut right front tire. Editors note: That's one way to avoid a pit road incident.)
• 41st - lap 65 (1 lap down. Derrike was 1 of 2 drivers that didn't get back on the lead lap. Pit stop must have been slow then.)
• 40th - lap 92
• 36th - lap 101 (after caution and pit stops)
• 33rd - lap 107 (looking good - too bad a lap down)
• 32nd - lap 117 (went low, probably to pass but only one car was in front of him to help)
• 31st - lap 120 (went back high)
• 30th - lap 128 (After caution and pit stops. Running with leaders single file before he decided to go high and back to the 2 wide pack.)
• lap 136 (Major multi-car wreck. Derrike was high and just enough in front of the incident to get through safely. Might have gotten a touch though by Chad Little in left rear.)
• 21st - lap 141 (After caution and pit stops. First car 1 lap down.)
• lap 155 (Looking great running fifth with the leaders. Why oh why was there a problem earlier. Mike Skinner and Derrike touched later.)
• 21st - lap 168 (after running low with the leaders went back high)
• 21st - lap 177 (After caution. 2 drivers in front of DC that are a lap down.)
• 20th - lap 180
• 19th - lap 183 (First car one lap down)
• 21st - lap 195 (Saw a brief glimpse of Derrike fighting with somebody and he backed down which probably accounted for losing positions)
• 19th - lap 198

Derrike finished the race in 18th position, 1 lap down. Even with the early problem of going down a lap, coming on strong at the end and running with the leaders has to give the team confidence going into the season.

(Feb. 14, 1999) -- Misfortune couldn’t snuff Jimmy Dean Pontiac driver Derrike Cope’s competitive fire at Daytona International Speedway Sunday.

Cope had a tire go down on his car and he nearly hit the wall when it finally blew on lap 43 of the 200-lap Daytona 500. But Cope masterfully saved the car and was able to pit for fresh rubber. He raced furiously the rest of the day, coming within passing two cars of getting his lap back before settling for 18th-place. He earned a whopping $110,859.

“This Jimmy Dean Pontiac was pretty good,” Cope said. “We marched back up there and showed everyone we could run up there. I was hoping I could get my lap back and I just didn’t have quite enough to get my lap back. At the end I tried to get out of everyone’s way and let them race. We didn’t want to cause the leaders any problems. It was a slow leak in the tire. It started getting tighter and I thought maybe it was just tight. It kept getting worse and I started to feel that thing lay over and bounce and I said, ‘We’ve got a slow leak going.’ Sure enough it went down and luckily I didn’t end up in the wall. It was a tough race. There was a lot of close competition. It was a great race. I just wish I could have been in the thick of it at the end with a chance of winning this thing while running up front.”

Cope, who started 20th, worked himself up to 14th before his flat. He returned to the track one lap down in 42nd. Just past the midway point of the race he was up to 30th and continued to climb. With less than 40 laps remaining he was running behind leaders Rusty Wallace and Dale Earnhardt, but couldn’t get any closer to getting back on the lead lap.

But the never-say-die effort by Cope and the entire Bahari’ Racing team proved the Jimmy Dean Pontiac is clearly a competitive force this season.

“It was an outstanding effort,” owner Chuck Rider said. “When you have a tire go down like that and it blows and you still keep it on the track and survive, that’s good. The team kept their composure and Derrike drove a heck of a race. We’re happy with a top-20 finish. We knew where we were position-wise near the end and a lap down, so we didn’t want to mix it up and destroy a car or hurt someone else. We backed off of it a little and that was a smart move on our part. Derrike brought the car home and now we can get it ready for Talladega.”

Next up is Sunday’s North Carolina 400 at North Carolina Speedway. It will mark the debut of Bryan as the primary sponsor on Cope’s Pontiac. Jimmy Dean is one of four rotating sponsors on the car, the others being State Fair and Rudy’s Farm.

Carola Farb was at the Daytona 500 and provided a live report. Carola's Live Report