NASCAR Winston Cup ITW DeVilbiss 400 Preview: #36, Derrike Cope
13 August 1997
#36 Derrike Cope, Skittles Pontiac Grand Prix NASCAR Winston Cup Series ITW DeVilbiss 400 Advance Michigan Speedway DERRIKE COPE NOTES & QUOTES: ITW DEVILBISS 400 BROOKLYN, NY - The Skittles Race Team's last trip to Michigan Speedway brought them their first and, so far, only top-10 finish of the season. Wanting to at least duplicate that performance this weekend during the ITW DeVilbiss 400, driver Derrike Cope's eighth-place finish during the 1997 Miller 400 was his third to-10 finish at the 2-mile track and 31st overall. "We're taking the same car back to Michigan that gave the Skittles Race Team its first top-10 finish," said Cope, who earlier this season at MS won the Exide All Charged Up Award for advancing the most spots from his starting to finishing position. "That top-10 finish definitely has been one of the highlights of the season. I enjoyed running with the front pack and challenging drivers like Dale Earnhardt. I welcome the opportunity again this weekend. "We're more than ready for a better first round qualifying run," commented Cope, whose best qualifying effort at MS came last year when he started in the second spot. "The team has been working harder and concentrating more on first day qualifying. With a better starting position, I'm sure we can run even better and finish higher. "The Skittles Pontiac ran well last time we went to Michigan and Derrike was able to move through the pack fairly easy," said first-year Winston Cup crew chief Ryan Pemberton. "We're confident that we can perform as well this weekend both in the pits and on the track." Cope's Record at Michigan Speedway Best Finish: 5th; 1989 Champion Spark Plug 400 Top-5 Finishes: N/A Top-10 Finishes: 3 Best Start: 2nd; 1996 Miller 400 Biggest Payday at Michigan Speedway: $33,475; 1997 Miller 400 YEAR EVENT Start Finish Earnings Reason 1997 Miller 400 42 8 33,475 Running 1996 Miller 400 2 40 24,080 Piston GM Goodwrench 400 27 24 25,015 Running 1995 Miller 400 36 19 15,325 Running GM Goodwrench 400 26 34 10,015 Piston 1994 Miller Genuine Draft 400 14 37 9,490 Handling GM Goodwrench Dealer 400 24 18 16,590 Running 1993 Miller Genuine Draft 400 30 27 12,785 Running Champion Spark Plug 400 17 21 13,815 Running 1992 Miller Genuine Draft 400 35 22 8,945 Running Champion Spark Plug 400 17 33 7,465 Accident 1991 Miller Genuine Draft 400 11 41 12,950 Engine Champion Spark Plug 400 19 34 13,075 Engine 1990 Miller Genuine Draft 400 18 12 13,100 Running Champion Spark Plug 400 13 19 10,650 Running 1989 Miller Genuine Draft 400 15 9 10,075 Running Champion Spark Plug 400 18 5 15,375 Running By Muhleman Marketing