Cory Roper opens up on fast start to 2021

Two races into the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season, veteran team owner and driver Cory Roper is off to the best start of his career.

Roper opened the year with a third-place finish at Daytona — a career-high finish in the series — but cut it close on making the Feb. 12 race.

“We were the last truck in on speed, that was stressful there for a little while, but we made up in the race,” Roper said.

With a 31st-place starting position, Roper remained patient throughout the race, avoiding all of the multi-truck crashes throughout the 101-lap race.

Roper held the lead on the final lap but ultimately came home behind race winner Ben Rhodes and Jordan Anderson.

Between the season opener and Daytona Road Course race, Roper announced CarQuest Auto Parts had signed on to be a primary sponsor with the organization.

After fuel pressure issues relegated Roper to a 34th-place finish at the Daytona Road Course, he is ranked 13th overall in driver’s points and his Roper Racing No. 04 entry is 18th in owner’s points.

“To be able to be locked in, we can have a little different strategies,” Roper said.

The next three races for the series are Las Vegas (Mar. 5), Atlanta (Mar. 20), and Bristol (Mar. 27).

“Really looking forward to getting back to [Las Vegas],” Roper said. “You can really show off what kind of trucks you built there. We’re taking a really nice piece.”

Perhaps the biggest question mark for Roper is the Bristol Dirt Race.

“I haven’t run on dirt since I was 13 years old, I have no idea what to expect. It’s going to be fun, and looking forward to it.”

SOURCES
Racing-Reference.info