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 By Muhleman Marketing