NASCAR Winston Cup Bud at Watkins Glen Preview: #36, Derrike Cope
7 August 1997
#36 Derrike Cope, Skittles Pontiac Grand Prix
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
The Bud at the Glen Advance
Watkins Glen International
DERRIKE COPE NOTE & QUOTES: THE BUD AT THE GLEN
WATKINS GLEN, NY - As the Skittles Race Team unloads a new road-course car,
driver Derrike Cope looks for a fresh start during the Bud at the Glen this
weekend after a 41st-place finish at the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor
Speedway.
The team spent a lot of time preparing the new Skittles Pontiac for the
11-turn track at Watkins Glen. With emphasis placed on the handling of the
car, Cope should have little challenge maneuvering around the 2.45-mile track.
With two top-20 finishes in as many years at Watkins Glen, Cope feels he
could take the Skittles team to at least a top-10 finish. His best finish at
the challenging road course came in 1993 when he finished 11th.
- "We truly have the potential of running in the top 10 this weekend at
Watkins Glen and, with some good luck, could even win this race," said Cope,
who fell two spots to 27th in the Winston Cup points standings after
finishing 41st last weekend at Indy.
- "Ryan (Pemberton) and the rest of the Skittles Team has worked
exceptionally hard at getting this new car prepared," added Cope, who
finished 16th last year during the Bud at the Glen. "With the combination
right- and left-hand turns on a road course, the down force and balance of
the car contributes a great deal to the handling."
- "I'm confident that the guys will find the right qualifying combination
this weekend," commented Cope, whose best qualifying effort at Watkins Glen
came in 1990 when he started seventh.
- "With just one groove to run around the turns, passing is even more
difficult at Watkins Glen than at other tracks," said Cope. "You can't run
wide open and rely solely on horsepower. Brakes and shifting often come into
play on a road course."
- A crash on lap 13 during the Brickyard 400 forced the #36 Skittles car
into early retirement from the 160-lap race, but may have earned the team a
"Purple Heart." The Skittles Pontiac proudly displayed the Marines logo on
the back quarterpanels of the car which were damaged during the accident.
Co-owner Tom Beard is sending the panels to his friend, John Dalton, who
happens to be the Secretary of the United States Navy, in hopes of receiving
the Purple Heart honor for being wounded in action.
COPE'S RECORD AT WATKINS GLEN
Best Finish: 11th; 1993 Budweiser at the Glen
Top-5 Finishes: N/A
Top-10 Finishes: N/A
Best Start: 7th; 1990 Budweiser at the Glen
Biggest Payday at Watkins Glen: $21,795; 1996 Bud at the Glen
YEAR EVENT Start Finish Earnings Reason
1996 Bud at the Glen 32 16 21,795 Running
1995 Bud at the Glen 31 15 16,040 Running
1994 Budweiser at the Glen 17 40 9,965 Engine
1993 Budweiser at the Glen 15 11 13,930 Running
1992 Budweiser at the Glen 20 34 5,130 Engine
1991 Budweiser at the Glen 26 13 13,560 Running
1990 Budweiser at the Glen 7 35 7,330 Engine
1989 Budweiser at the Glen 12 40 2,145 Engine
By Muhleman Marketing