TranSouth Financial 400

March 21, 1999
Darlington, SC

(March 16, 1999) -- Buddy Parrott fondly referred to Derrike Cope as a "little Tazmanian Devil" when he served as the 1990 Daytona 500 winner's crew chief.

Last year at Darlington Raceway, Chuck Rider found out firsthand what an appropriate nickname that is for Cope. Cope's gritty performance in the TranSouth Financial 400 is a permanent source of inspiration for the Bryan Racing team -- and a primary reason why Rider believes his team can right its course four races into the NASCAR Winston Cup season when the circuit returns to Darlington this weekend.

Cope entered last year's spring race at Darlington with two broken ribs, sustained in a crash two weeks prior in a race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. In obvious pain each time he crawled into the car, Cope gritted it out through the weekend. He qualified for the race and was running well until he suffered a blown engine 63 laps from the finish.

Rider has never doubted Cope's resolve and fortitude since.

"The team just wanted to pick him up on a pedestal and carry him around," Rider said. "It was amazing and so inspiring. Derrike is so determined in everything he does. It really showed last year at Darlington and it was evident throughout much of the season when he drove hurt. You can't ask for anything more out of a driver."

Cope enters Sunday's TranSouth Financial 400 under similar circumstances. He took two hard hits in separate crashes during last weekend's NASCAR races. He's sore, but Cope sustained no injuries.

Cope's situation will be closely documented on Sunday courtesy of an in-car camera. It will mark the third consecutive race in which Cope's Pontiac has carried an in-car camera. It will mark the second time the Bryan Pontiac has carried one. Bryan is one of four Sara Lee companies sharing a unique rotating sponsorship of the Bahari' Racing team. The others are Jimmy Dean, State Fair and Rudy's Farm.

Darlington is known as NASCAR's toughest superspeedway, but Cope likes the 1.366-mile challenge. He finished fourth in the 1991 Southern 500.

"I like Darlington," Cope said. "I like challenges and Darlington is one of the circuit's biggest. It often takes a lucky break to win a Winston Cup race. At Darlington, you usually need two or three."

Rider, always the optimist, believes Cope can get the job done at Darlington.

"He's determined when he's in that seat, regardless of the situation," Rider said. "He's always determined to take that car to the front. Derrike is just a super human being."

Last year at Darlington, Cope looked like a NASCAR version of Superman. A similar performance this year could have lots of eyes on the Bryan Pontiac come Sunday.

In the first practice on Friday Derrike was 34th fastest of 46 drivers with a time of 29.574 and speed of 166.281. In the second practice, he was 39th fastest with a time of 29.428 and speed of 167.106.

In first round qualifying, Derrike was 25th on the track in the Bryan Pontiac and produced a time of 29.015 and speed of 169.485. This was good enough at the time for 17th position. At the end of the round, the Bryan Pontiac had fallen to 39th position of the 46 drivers.

After the qualifying lap, Derrike said, "The car was a little free and I was definitely loose going into turn one. That scuffed some speed off it right there. Last week this team pulled together when we had a top time in first round qualifying and we wound up 27th. Hopefully, we can do that again."

In second round qualifying, the Bryan Pontiac could only pull a time of 29.395 and speed of 167.294. This put Derrike in last place and thus will miss the show.

(March 20, 1999) -- Bryan Foods will sponsor the Junie Donlavey-owned Ford driven by Ed Berrier in Sunday’s TranSouth Financial 400 at Darlington Raceway.

Bryan is the primary sponsor on 1990 Daytona 500 champion Derrike Cope’s No. 30 Pontiac this weekend. Cope did not crack the starting field for Sunday’s race, so car owner Chuck Rider negotiated a one-race deal with Donlavey to put the Bryan colors on Donlavey’s Ford.

“We asked Chuck if we could do anything to help Bryan Foods since we don’t have anything on our car,” Donlavey said. “We know how it is with these big sponsorships. We wanted to help Bryan get some exposure and we’re happy to do it. We need all the help we can get at the moment, so we’re delighted to have Bryan aboard. We’ll also have Mean Green on the car.”

Bryan is one of four Sara Lee companies serving as rotating sponsors on Rider’s Pontiacs this season. The others are Jimmy Dean, State Fair and Rudy’s Farm.

“We really appreciate the fact that Chuck was thoughtful enough to make sure Bryan would be in Sunday’s TranSouth Financial 400,” said Rick Lowry, vice president of retail sales and marketing for Bryan Foods. “We know Derrike Cope and the team are going to turn things around. We believe in them and are looking forward to our continued association this season with Bahari’ Racing.”

Donlavey’s car will also have a Bryan in-car camera during ESPN’s live telecast Sunday of the TranSouth Financial 400.