No plans for Cope to compete in Cup at this time

Derrike Cope has no intentions of competing in the Cup Series anytime soon, the drive told The Racing Experts.

Cope continues his role in 2018 at the team manager for Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series team StarCom Racing (SCR), alongside his wife, Elyshia, who serves as the team’s marketing director.

“I think we’ve really committed to trying to run one car,” Cope said.

The team currently fields the No. 00 Chevrolet driven by Landon Cassill, who competed in a majority of the races for the team in 2018.

Cope drove SCR’s car in its first two premier series races in 2017 and in a second entry for SCR three times in 2018.

The last time Cope, the 1990 Daytona 500 champion, drove in a Cup Series races was for SCR at Darlington Raceway last September to a 33rd-place finish.

Was the Darlington race his last as a Cup Series competitor?

“I really don’t prognosticate what’ll happen,” Cop said when asked that question. “Honestly, it could have been, and it may not be. I don’t really know.

“I haven’t really thought much about it. My concerns are more about the team and where we’re at right now. So yeah, it could have been, who knows.

“I still would like to do something again, but right now I’m pleased and happy with what we’re doing.”

Cope refrained from using the word “retirement” during the interview.

If he never competes in a Monster Energy Cup Series race again, Cope will end his premier series career with 2 wins, 6 top-five finishes, 32 top-10 finishes with 427 total starts spanning 27 seasons.