MBNA Platinum 400

June 6, 1999
Dover, DE

(June 1, 1999) -- Jimmy Dean Pontiac driver still displays the never-say-die attitude that led one of his past crew chiefs to nickname him that "little Tazmanian Devil."

Relentlessness is a trait the determined Cope is never in short supply of. The same can be said for Bahari' Racing owner Chuck Rider, who announced another hiring today to help restore momentum to his team.

Rider has hired Corrie Stott as team manager, the former crew chief for Sterling Marlin at Sabco Racing. After coming aboard mid-season last year, Stott helped Marlin rally from 31st to a finish of 13th in the NASCAR Winston Cup point standings. Dayne Pierantoni has been given a new title on the team -- general manager.

The addition of Stott gives Bahari' Racing four former crew chiefs on its roster -- Stott, John McQueen (shock specialist), Ernie Cope (car chief) and current crew chief Dan Glauz.

"Corrie worked nearly three years under Ray Evernham and has learned a tremendous amount of organizational skills," Rider said. "He'll make us a little more detailed in each area. He respects Dan's ability and they will be able to work well together. We've really got a good nucleus together."

Cope echoed Rider's comments.

"I think we've taken a significant leap in an upgrade of personnel," Cope said. "That's hard to do at this time of the season. This shows we're working hard to turn things around."

Cope enters Sunday's MBNA Platinum 400 at Dover Downs International Speedway as an underdog, but he won in that role in the 1990 running of the race. Cope found that triumph even more satisfying in some ways than his shocking Daytona 500 victory earlier that year. Both victories came under Parrott's guidance.

"That was really the race that reinforced my belief in myself, my team and my abilities," Cope said. "It proved I know how to win. Dover is a tough track on race car and driver and it remains so today. To go up there and flat whip 'em, just flat whip 'em, proved we were the best team on that Sunday. We were the best in the world on that Sunday."

Parrott mistakenly ran Cope out of gas during the race. Cope doggedly stuck to the tail end of the lead lap as Rusty Wallace tried in vain to put him a lap down. Cope eventually worked his way around after a couple of caution periods and ran away with the win.

"I proved I can run 500 miles as good as anybody, and when push came to shove I was able to run one of the best in the business down in Rusty Wallace," Cope said. "The way I look at it is I can drive one of these things. It proved I know how to win."

Cope knows the Jimmy Dean Racing team faces a stiff challenge at Dover. The one-mile track's concrete surface is unforgiving and makes for a rough ride. The superspeedway's 24-degree banking in its turns can wear a driver down physically. Yet Cope relishes the formidable task.

"You just have to go out there and initiate a learning process, an apprenticeship of Dover," Cope said. "You try and gain confidence. It's a mindset. I broke loose one time there and I knocked the fence down. I had a good race car that day, too. That kind of thing can make you wonder, 'Do I still have it?' I feel the best way to approach Dover is to gradually work up to that level of confidence. You're just on the edge of your seat while you're on top of the wheel, a lot more than you want to be. But when you gain confidence in the car, then it becomes like any other race track."

Under the same tough Dover circumstances, Cope is out for vindication in Sunday's MBNA Platinum 400. The "little Tasmanian Devil" is ready to go for another whirl.

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

In Friday's first practice Derrike was 39th fastest with a time of 23.269 and speed of 154.712. In the second practice he picked up the speed and was 37th fastest with a time of 23.087 and speed of 155.931.

Derrike and the Jimmy Dean Pontiac finished first round qualifying in 44th position with a time of 23.376 and speed of 154.004.

In Saturday's practice Derrike was 5th fastest with a time of 23.216 and speed of 155.065.

In second round qualifying, Derrike pulled off a time of 23.035 and speed of 156.284. This was good enough for 30th position to start the race.

In Happy Hour, Derrike was 42nd fastest with a time of 23.997 and speed of 150.018.

Derrike finished the race in 36th position, 11 laps down.

(June 6, 1999) -- Jimmy Dean Pontiac driver Derrike Cope battled a tight race car throughout the MBNA Platinum 400 at Dover Downs International Speedway Sunday.

Cope, who started 30th, fell behind to 39th 50 laps into the race. He dropped as far back as 42nd at one point, but battled back to finish 36th, 11 laps behind race winner Bobby Labonte. Cope never gave up, showing why one of his past crew chiefs nicknamed him a "little Tazmanian Devil."

“We had a tight car through out the entire race,” Cope said. “No matter what we did, the car would not respond to our changes. I had to slow down to keep it from bouncing off the wall. It is really hard to race with the field when you are struggling with the steering of the car. We will get back to work this week and hopefully get the problem straightened out.”

Cope earned 55 points on the day and moved up to 43rd with 497 NASCAR Winston Cup points. Next up for Chuck Rider’s Bahari’ Racing team is Sunday’s K-Mart 400 at Michigan Speedway.

Jimmy Dean is one of four Sara Lee companies rotating as sponsors on Cope’s car. The others are State Fair, Bryan and Rudy’s Farm.

Adam and Shelly Jablonski were at the race and provided a live report. Adam and Shelly's Report