Derrike Cope has been one of NASCAR stock-car racing’s most enduring drivers.
The Spanaway, Wash., native made his first NASCAR Nextel Cup Series start in 1982 and raced full time in the series for the first time in 1987. Today, at age 49, Cope picks up rides when he can find them in the Cup, Busch and Craftsman Truck series.
Cope’s biggest day came in February 1990 when he scored one of the largest upsets in sports history, winning the Daytona 500. Cope’s only other Cup Series victory came later that season at Dover, Del.
Cope has 32 top-10 finishes and one pole in 408 career Cup starts.
Cope also owns a single Busch Series triumph in 107 starts in that division.
Featured here (clockwise from top left): At the track in June 1990; In his early days of racing in 1986; Trying on the Winston blazer alongside Sports Marketing Enterprises PR Director Bob Kelly at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1990; In the garage in 1993; Celebrating a pole at Charlotte in 1998; As a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competitor in 2007; Talking to Chad Little at Sears Point Raceway in 1995; Taking it easy in at the track in 1992; Relaxing in 1990. — NSSN Archives