Pontiac Excitement 400

May 15, 1999
Richmond, VA

(May 10, 1999) -- Contrary to the bump and grind short tracks at Bristol and Martinsville, Jimmy Dean Pontiac driver Derrike Cope believes the wide, .75-mile short track at Richmond International Raceway will allow him to showcase his driving skills in Saturday's Pontiac Excitement 400.

"I like Richmond," Cope said. "We have historically run well there. We have had some good qualifying efforts. Richmond allows more finesse because it is a wider track than most small tracks. At this race track, you can find a secondary lane. It is easier to find your way around someone without having to shove their car aside."

Cope and his teammates hope that last week's break in the Winston Cup schedule will give them enough time to prepare for the Pontiac Excitement 400. The team is testing at Memphis Motorsports Park on Tuesday to dial in its Richmond short track car. Last week, Cope spent two days testing at Lowe's Motor Speedway in preparation for the Winston Open and May 30 Coca-Cola 600.

Success at Richmond boils down to the car adapting to the several different racing grooves available to the drivers. An adaptable car gives a driver more avenues to pass.

"Richmond is one of those race tracks where the car has got to run well," Cope said. "It has to get direction. It has to have good balance in order to get the car in the corner because you have to arc the car into turn one. That car has got to turn when it gets into the middle. The same goes for three and four. Of course, they are tighter turns, so the car really has to rotate. It is a place you can overdrive easily, so the car has got to work."

The Pontiac Excitement 400 is the biggest sporting event in Virginia with an attendance easily surpassing 100,000.

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.

Jimmy Dean Foods made an announcement this weekend to celebrate their 30th anniversary. Derrike will be driving a special 30th anniversary paint job this weekend.

In Friday's practice, Derrike was the 46th fastest with a time of 22.102 and speed of 122.160.

First round qualifying was postponed due to rain. The field was set on one round of qualifying and Derrike and the 30th Anniversary Jimmy Dean Pontiac produced a time of 21.727 and speed of 124.269. This was 36th fastest of the 46 drivers and thus, Derrike will be starting the race in 36th position.

In Saturday's final practice, Derrike was 36th fastest with a time of 22.154 and speed of 121.874.

Derrike started the race in 36th position. This is where he was during the race among the 43 drivers:

• 35th+ position - laps 1- 35 of 400
• 34th - lap 50
• 36th - lap 70
• 39th - lap 75 (last time we see either his car or the positions)
• lap 115 (wreck - compliments of Steve Park)

Derrike finished the race in 42nd position, 285 laps down.

Note: Thanks to Ed Robinson for the TV report.

(May 15, 1999) -- Jimmy Dean Pontiac driver Derrike Cope ran the high side of Richmond International Raceway Saturday night, anxious for his next pit stop so the Bahari’ Racing team could further dial in his Grand Prix.

They never got the opportunity.

Cope was sent spinning into the turn four wall from a tap from behind by Steve Park. Cope’s Pontiac hit the wall, completely smashing in the rear end on the 115th of 400 laps of the Pontiac Excitement 400. The damage was too much for the team to fix in time to return to the race.

“We were running around on the high side and Steve Park was trying to get around on the bottom,” Cope said. “He was struggling down there and got into me in three. He was just having a rough go. It’s just tough. I was on the outside trying to keep going. I hate it because Jimmy Dean was here and it was their 30th anniversary and we wanted to run well. We had our qualifying motor in all day and put our race motor in before the race and it wasn’t as good. We were struggling.”

Cope was saddled with a 42nd-place finish.

Next up for Chuck Rider’s Bahari’ Racing team is Saturday’s Winston Open race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. In his last visit to Charlotte, Cope won the pole for last October’s race.

Jimmy Dean is one of four rotating sponsors on Cope’s car. The others are Bryan, State Fair and Jimmy Dean. State Fair is the primary sponsor for the Winston Open.

Ken Fleming was at the race and provided a live report. Ken's Report