Derrike Cope crashes out of Daytona 500
1990 Daytona 500 champion Derrike Cope’s return to the Great American Race lasted three laps.
Cope, piloting the No. 15 for Rick Ware Racing in his first Cup Series start since 2018, cut a tire in Turn 3 of the third lap of the Daytona 500 Sunday, ultimately making contact with the outside retaining wall.
Cope was credited with completing three laps.
The 62-year-old driver had said the Daytona 500 would likely be his final start in NASCAR’s premier series.
If the 2021 season opener is his final race, Cope will retire with 428 starts, 1 pole, 2 wins, 6 Top-5 finishes, 32 Top-10 finishes and 282 laps led.
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Dominic Aragon View All
Dominic Aragon is currently the editor-in-chief for The Racing Experts.
From Grants, New Mexico, USA, Aragon started watching NASCAR in 2004 and has been covering the sport since 2009. Aragon is a 2012 graduate of Grants High School and a May 2016 graduate of the University of New Mexico with a B.A. in Mass Communications & Journalism. Aragon has worked in local and national media, as a musician, and an educator. He is co-author of the 2024 book "All of It: Daytona 500 Champion Tells the Rest of the Story" with racer Geoff Bodine.
Aragon, his wife Feliz, and son Christopher currently reside in Grants, New Mexico, USA.
You can reach Dominic at daragon@theracingexperts.net.