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