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Goody's Body Pain 500April 18, 1999
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(April 12, 1999) -- An extensive test at Martinsville Speedway two weeks ago has Jimmy Dean Pontiac driver Derrike Cope optimistic heading into Friday's time trials for the Goody's Body Pain 500. Cope, under the watchful eye of crew chief Dan Glauz, shook down the Jimmy Dean Pontiac and said the knowledge learned from the test should prove beneficial in qualifying. "We were able to try things with the car to see what would work and what wouldn't," Cope said. "There was definitely a positive outcome. T&L brought a motor up there to do some manifold testing and look at the carburetors. We got to test both our motor and their motor to see which had a better feel. We also got more time to look at the data. I feel we can make better decisions thanks to that test. The practice should be beneficial because I only raced there once last year, due to the fact I had to sit out one race with broken ribs." The picturesque .526-mile short track has undergone a major facelift. Spaces have been added to the frontstretch pit road, giving pit stalls to all 43 teams. No longer will some teams be put at a disadvantage by having to utilize backstretch pits. Cope welcomes the changes, but has some concerns with the new layout. "It's my opinion it may tear up a bunch of race cars," Cope said. "The only way you can get in or out of pit road is on the back straightaway. There is basically one way in, in turn three, and it comes around just like North Wilkesboro did. You come in off turn one and go halfway around the track and start pitting. Then you will come all the way down pit row and halfway around turn one and then exit at turn two. "Guys often get spun around on turn four at Martinsville. Before, you could run up on a curve and get to an open area. Well now, that curb is four or five feet from the pit row wall. I think you may see cars come off four, get spun around, and crash into the wall along the entrance to pit road. It's something we'll have to be careful to avoid." Unlike most of his competitors, Cope didn't get a lot of short track experience cutting his racing teeth on the West Coast. Despite that, Cope still enjoys NASCAR's pilgrimages to the sport's "bull rings." "Short tracks are a nice change," Cope said. "I understand the demand for different styles of driving. I do enjoy it. Martinsville is one of the better places, but it is different than most of your small tracks. It is a quick, fast, aggressive place without a lot of room. It is a real battle at Martinsville. It is like a jousting match. You have guys dueling with each other, but without the lances and in cars instead of horses." Short track races often result in caution-filled events resulting in several mangled machines. Each driver tries to avoid trouble, but at times roughhousing is essential in order to pass on the narrow Martinsville track. Racing too hard will burn out the brakes in the corners. "Sometimes it seems the best way around Martinsville is finesse," Cope said. "There have been times when I can drive the car faster with softer springs by driving it harder, while using more brake. But sometimes that doesn't work so you have to change it up. It is always a different scenario." If he can find the right rhythm, Cope is hoping to make some sweet music in the Jimmy Dean Pontiac at Martinsville. Jimmy Dean is one of four Sara Lee companies rotating as sponsors on owner Chuck Rider's Bahari' Racing Pontiac this season. The others are Bryan, State Fair and Rudy's Farm.
In first round qualifying, Derrike took the track as the 28th of 46 drivers. In the first lap he produced a time of 20.496 and speed of 92.389. The second lap was faster with a time of 20.365 and speed of 92.983 but it still was the slowest of all the qualifiers at that time which put him in 28th position. At the end of the round, the Jimmy Dean Pontiac was left in 44th position. After first round qualifying, Derrike said, "We’re really scratching our heads. The car actually feels pretty good out there. Somewhere we’ve got to find some speed. Qualifying has just boiled down to a precise science right now and right now we’re struggling when it’s test time." In second round qualifying Derrike produced a lap of 20.614 and speed of 91.860. This was not good enough speed wise to make the race but the team was able to take a provisional and get in the race at the 43rd position. Derrike was 42nd fastest in Happy Hour. The Jimmy Dean Pontiac will be carrying an in-car camera during the race.
Derrike started the race in 43rd position. This is where he was during the race among the 43 drivers:
Derrike finished the race in 34th position, 8 laps down.
(April 18, 1999) -- Jimmy Dean Pontiac driver Derrike Cope gave it his all Sunday in the Goody’s Body Pain 500 at Martinsville Speedway. After drawing the final provisional spot and starting 43rd in the race, Cope struggled through the tricky handling corners at the .533-mile short track. He stayed calm on the radio and told his crew how the car was handling. Cope couldn’t keep up with the blistering pace set by leaders Rusty Wallace, Jeff Gordon and Jeff Burton, but he continued to fight. Late in the race, Cope had difficulty getting proper airflow into his driver’s helmet and had trouble breathing. Still, he wouldn’t quit, finally settling for a 34th-place finish. After exiting the car and stepping inside the Jimmy Dean hauler, Cope briefly passed out. He was quickly revived by medical personnel after receiving oxygen. “I fought it all day long,” Cope said. “I just battled as much as I could. The car didn’t want to turn in the corners and that really hurts you here. Towards the end of the race, I don’t know what the problem was, but I was having trouble breathing. We didn’t have any crush panel problems, so I don’t know if we had a problem with air getting in the car or what. I’m exhausted and I can’t wait to get home and rest. All I can say is everyone fought all day long.” Next up for owner Chuck Rider and the Jimmy Dean Racing team is Sunday’s DieHard 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Cope will be driving the Bryan Pontiac. Jimmy Dean is one of four Sara Lee companies rotating as sponsors on the No. 30 Pontiac. The others are Bryan, State Fair and Rudy’s Farm. |
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