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Daytona 1990 – Derrike Cope Upsets The NASCAR World

Derrike Cope after qualifying at Daytona in 1990. – Steve Zautke collection

When Derrike Cope won the Daytona 500 in 1990 it was the arguably the biggest upset in the Daytona 500 since Tiny Lund won in 1963. For team owner Bob Whitcomb along with seasoned and successful chief mechanic Buddy Parrot, they had enjoyed a rewarding Daytona Speedweeks, even before the final lap of the Daytona 500.

Wisconsin favorite Dick Trickle tried to stretch out fuel in the second Twin 125 only to come up a couple of laps short. – Steve Zautke collection

Wisconsin favorite Dick Trickle tried to stretch out fuel in the second Twin 125 only to come up a couple of laps short. – Steve Zautke collection

Starting in row ten, Cope finished a competitive but inconspicuous sixth in the second Twin 125-qualifying race the previous Thursday. That race was controlled by Dick Trickle whose team tried to run the race without a pit stop. Trickle was eventually passed by Dale Earnhardt in the famous black Goodwrench Chevy No. 3 with three-laps to go. A lap later running second, Trickle was then dropped-kicked when he ran out of fuel by Bill Elliott’s red and gold Ford Thunderbird coming out of Turn-2 on the penultimate lap. No yellow flag was waved as Earnhardt won comfortably over Elliott and Jimmy Spencer who was driving the memorable red Heinz 57 Pontiac.

The first Twin-125 was notable as “The King” Richard Petty led the first 15 laps and brought the 95,000 fans in attendance to their feet, cheering for the Petty blue and red No. 43 Pontiac. The race was eventually won by Geoff Bodine in Junior Johnson’s red Budweiser Ford.

Ken Schrader and Dale Earnhardt were on the front row in their Chevrolet Luminas for the Great American Race. However Bodine would move up to start on the pole as Schrader moved to the rear due to switching to a back-up car due to a last lap crash in the first qualifying race. Cope would start alongside Richard Petty in row six.

Dale Earnhardt and the black No. 3. – Courtesy of Chevrolet Racing

Dale Earnhardt and the black No. 3. – Courtesy of Chevrolet Racing

Earnhardt dominated the race, being the only one could extend his lead and run by himself. The only multi-car accident of the race occurred on lap 43 when Rob Moroso and Phil Parsons got together coming out of the tri-oval and collected Mike Alexander and Alan Kulwicki in the process. Earnhardt would end up leading 155 laps but came up short on the last lap. Apparently Rick Wilson had lost an engine with several laps to go. A piece of bell housing cut Earnhardt’s right rear tire as he entered turn two.

Earnhardt remarked to reporters after the race, “I hit some debris, something. I heard it hit the bottom of the car and then it hit the tire and then the (right-rear) tire went.” He added, “If I had known that debris was back there, well, there ain’t nothing you can do. You can’t see everything on the racetrack.”

Cope who had run among the leaders all day passed the slowing black No. 3 Chevy and took the lead for the final mile or so in front of a stunned crowd. Cope remarked in victory lane, “I just got on it, turned it to the left and asked it to stick, and it stuck.” He commented, “I expected my car to come around, but it didn’t.”

Cope admitted he was resigned to finish second behind Earnhardt. “All I wanted to do was stay in front of Terry (Labonte). Every time he got near me, I got loose. I didn’t think I could beat Earnhardt, but I just wanted to protect myself and finish second.”

Cope whose previous best finish was a sixth at Charlotte the year prior, was in the right place to win. Running strong all day, leading four laps earlier in the race the Spanaway, Washington native and his bright orange Purolator Chevy No. 10 was usually in the television shot with the leaders. Nevertheless, it was Earnhardt’s race as he had built a 40-second lead, unheard of in NASCAR nowadays before a late caution.

Although this particular Daytona 500 is the lowest rated in TV numbers, it’s quite memorable for those who watched it live on CBS Sports for a number of curious reasons. Two camera cars driven by Bobby Hamilton and Greg Sacks were used for the upcoming movie Days of Thunder starring Tom Cruise. Starting at the rear of the field they ran with the pack and made unusual pit stops, not for tires but for film! Additionally, fan favorite, A.J. Foyt gave an entertaining interview to pit reporter David Hobbs. Foyt had quit the race because of being “drunk’ from the fumes of his new helmet. Of course who can forget the live cut-ins featuring Dale’s wife, Theresa holding daughter Taylor in their R.V. Smiling while on camera, then cutting back to the race action, we see the No. 3 slow in Turn 3 and then TV cuts back to a heart-broken Theresa and a crying Taylor.

Cope would also win the spring race at Dover in June and end up 18th in the final point standings while running the full schedule. Cope concluded the season with two wins (his only top-5s) six top-10 finishes and would lead 109-laps for the year, by far his most successful year. In 1995 driving for Bobby Allison, he did have two top-5 and eight top-ten finishes resulting with a creditable 15th place in points. However, Cope remains an answer to a popular trivia question and eventually would drive in 409 races with his last start in 2009.

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