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NASCAR Winston Cup Series Dura-Lube 500 Preview: #36, Derrike Cope

30 October 1997

 
 #36 Derrike Cope, Skittles Pontiac Grand Prix
 NASCAR Winston Cup Series
 Dura-Lube 500 Presented by Kmart Advance
 Phoenix International Raceway
 
         DERRIKE COPE NOTES & QUOTES: DURA-LUBE 500 PRESENTED BY KMART
 
PHOENIX, AZ - "If there was any race that we had a better chance of winning, 
I would bet on Phoenix," said Derrike Cope, who moved up one spot to 27th in 
the Winston Cup points standings after remaining in 28th position since 
September. "I feel comfortable on the flat, one-mile track. It's really 
beautiful out there."

 - "We had that race won in 1995 but Rudd had taken on four tires on the 
last pit stop whereas we changed only two," said Cope, who lead 32 total 
laps during the 1995 Dura-Lube 500. "That proved to be the difference in who 
went to victory lane."

 - The #36 Skittles Race Team welcomed honorary pit crew member Eric 
Kittiko, 16, to North Carolina Motor Speedway as he celebrated the end of 
chemotherapy. The Douglasville, Ga. native befriended Skittles co-owner Tom 
Beard from nearby Atlanta and fulfilled one of his dreams by meeting driver 
Derrike Cope and attending his first NASCAR race.

 - It will be more of a treat than a trick for the Winston Cup race teams 
this Friday, October 31 at Phoenix International Raceway. The Skittles Race 
Team will be handing out Halloween bags full of tasty treats from M&M/MARS, 
Inc. to each team during the first day of qualifying. 

        Cope's Record at Phoenix International Raceway (since 1989)

Best Finish: 2nd; 1995 Dura-Lube 500 
Top-5 Finishes: 1
Top-10 Finishes: 2
Best Start: 4th; 1989 Autoworks 500
Biggest Payday at Phoenix International Raceway: $52,205; 1995 Dura-Lube 500 

   Year       Event                   S   F     Earnings    Notes    
   1996       Dura-Lube 500          27  43     $17,465     Accident
   1995       Dura-Lube 500          18   2      52,205     Running
   1994       Slick 50 500           22  30      12,935     Running
   1993       Slick 50 500           31  23      11,535     Running
   1992       Pyroil 500             13   7      13,220     Running
   1991       Pyroil 500              6  16      12,950     Running
   1990       Checker 500            20  14       9,450     Running
   1989       Autoworks 500           4  14       6,440     Running


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