Creation Autosportif teams up with Cope: Creation Autosportif announced a partnership with NASCAR Daytona 500 winner Derrike Cope to form ‘Creation-Cope Racing’ (CCR). The venture will see the respected British Le Mans LMP organisation teaming up with the 30-year NASCAR veteran Cope, with the capability of entering cars in Sprint Cup, Nationwide, Camping World Trucks and K&N Pro Series, out of its race shop premises in Mooresville, North Carolina. Creation's owner Mike Jankowski enthused "Creation has always looked at NASCAR with great interest and admiration. The opportunity to be involved with Derrike in this development platform was not to be missed. We look forward to being able to offer drivers the opportunity to participate in one of the most professional racing platforms in the World".
Derrike Cope added “I am pleased with the development of Creation-Cope Racing. In my opinion the time is right for a comprehensive development program that ensures a direct segway to NASCAR for European and Asian drivers. Our intent is to provide not just a testing platform, but one of total development and guidance throughout the process, which includes our own team’s ability to extend the services to the racetrack. What makes us stand out is our knowledge, our relationships, and a 30 year background in NASCAR. We race in the NASCAR Series every weekend...and with the right guidance new drivers can too!” CCR’s Driver Development activity has already begun with Northern Irish ex-Indy Lights driver Ali Jackson completing a successful evaluation, with his plans firmly set on progression with CCR through the NASCAR ranks.(creationcope.com)(11-10-2011)

Cope withdraws from Darlington: Derrike Cope posted on his Facebook page, "I had entered the 75 Sprint Cup car for Darlington this weekend...but after running the car on the engine dyno we found that the horsepower was not where it need to be to really have a chance at qualifying for the race. So, we will address the issue of trying to look at an alternative engine source and hopefully be at the Showdown at Charlotte on All-Star weekend to shake the car down and look at future races later in the year."(5-6-2011)

Why did Cope withdraw from Martinsville? #75-Derrike Cope was entered to run last weeks Sprint Cup race at Martinsville Speedway, but withdrew. An explanation on Cope's Facebook: "We had entered the Martinsville Sprint Cup race scheduled for this weekend...but we were unable to finish the car in time for us to properly prepare. We had a few issues that presented themselves and put us behind so we opted to withdraw our entry and try in the near future. The car looks great! We will work on some sponsorship as well as get the car on the pull down rig, chassis dyno, and possibly test on a short track somewhere to get more prepared before our next outing."(4-5-2011)

Derrike Cope launches new company: #75-Derrike Cope and co-owner Dale Clemons announce the launch of the new motorsports company Stratus Racing Group, Inc. The full service company with racing facilities in Mooresville NC is equipped for participation in the ARCA, NASCAR Camping World Truck, Nationwide and Sprint Cup series. With major sponsorship already secured the company will campaign a full schedule in 2010 with the Nationwide and Camping World Truck series. The company will aggressively support a driver development program through activity in ARCA and will partner with Gary Keller of CKR for select Sprint Cup races in 2010; while setting its sights on more Cup efforts in 2011. Co-Owner and primary driver Derrike Cope will be behind the wheel of the Nationwide car and Camping World truck while drivers Amber and Angela Cope are slated for ARCA races and limited truck series races. Racing veterans Rick Markle and father Del Markle will oversee team, engineering and pit crew responsibilities; plans to incorporate staff from Derrike Cope Inc. are currently underway. The company will debut its ARCA teams twin female drivers, Angela and Amber Cope at the Daytona ARCA test session this coming weekend. "Both drivers have experienced success in ARCA racing and are very excited to be moving forward to the NASCAR Truck Series with us in 2010," stated Derrike Cope.
"We are excited and pleased to be able to offer our current and potential sponsors a diverse platform of opportunities both on and off of the track in all of the top series creating enormous value. Additionally, utilizing our full service marketing efforts we are able to formulate a dynamic experience for companies in motorsports," stated Clemons. Derrike Cope (derrikecope@stratusracinggroup.com) will direct and oversee racing operations while Dale Clemons (dclemons@stratusracinggroup.com) will manage company administration and marketing. "We are very pleased to have secured the sponsorship required to provide Derrike with the necessary elements to return to full time competitive racing, we will provide sponsorship announcements in the coming weeks," stated Clemons.(Derrike Cope.com)(12-14-2009)

Cobb hopes to race Sprint Cup: Jennifer Jo Cobb will be attempting her 4th NASCAR Nationwide Series start as well as her 8th ARCA Re/Max Series start at her hometown track, the Kansas Speedway, this week. Cobb’s ultimate goal is to be the first woman competing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in over 8 years. For now, she will focus on the next step to that lofty goal in this week’s Kansas Lottery 150 scheduled for Thursday, October 1 and the Kansas Lottery 300 on Saturday, October 3. Capitol Federal Savings will serve as the primary sponsor on Cobb’s #79 CapFed.com Dodge,for team owner Derrike Cope, Inc. with Rick Markle Racing. Cobb will have two teammates, owner/driver, Derrike Cope and the inaugural Kansas Speedway race pole sitter, Kevin Lepage. Cobb works as one of the instructors for the Richard Petty Driving Experience and has logged thousands of laps at Kansas Speedway. Cobb has developed Driver Boutique; her own clothing line for female motorsports fans and www.DrivenMale.com a new clothing line for male race fans.(Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing)(10-1-2009)

Cope not running at Pocono: from the Derrike Cope site: After the weekend #75-Derrike Cope said, "You are all probably wondering what happened at Indy. Simply put we did not perform well enough to make the race. We struggled from the very first lap on the racetrack. We were loose and the car would not seem to allow me to drive it. It wanted to drive me which will not work. We just do not have enough experience yet with this car to be consistent enough to battle effectively to qualify for one of these Sprint Cup races at this exact moment. Gary Keller and myself, along with Rick and Del Markle, are working on acquiring some assistance from a veteran crew chief to lead us down the proper path. We have already purchased some parts and pieces that he has led us to believe is necessary to start that process. We will take the next two weeks to properly prepare for Michigan and try there again. We were scheduled to run Pocono this weekend, but have elected to withdraw and be better prepared with some things that hopefully will put us closer to the competition at Michigan in a couple weeks."(Derrikecope.com)(7-29-2009)

flipNbags.com to sponsor Cope at All-Star Showdown: Derrike Cope, Inc. and Cope/Keller Racing have found the "perfect demographic match" between the flipNbags.com products and NASCAR. flipNbags.com will sponsor Derrike Cope in five of his DCI Nationwide efforts and one Cup event. Cope and the team are eligible for the NASCAR All-Star race weekend to participate in the Showdown at Lowes Motor Speedway and flipNbags.com will be the primary sponsor. Entries into the Camping World Truck Series are also being considered.()(4-16-2009)

Cope Announces Entry for Martinsville: Derrike Cope, Inc. will enter this weekend’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville. FW1/Fast Wax and flipNbags.com will serve as co-primary sponsors for the team’s entry, which will be driven by Cope. “Our team is gaining momentum with every race,” said Cope. “We are planning to compete this season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck, Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series’ and we are pleased to be working with such great new sponsors while building a stronger racing program.” Also on the #75 Dodge Charger will be associate sponsor Blu Frog Energy Drink.(Derrike Cope, Inc PR)(3-26-2009)

Blu Frog Energy to sponsor Cope at Daytona: The Limu Company’s amazing new product Blu Frog Energy is the primary sponsor for three different vehicles during the week at Daytona. The vehicles include the #75 Blu Frog Energy Dodge that will be running to qualify for The Daytona 500, driven by 1990 Daytona 500 Champion Derrike Cope, the #74 Blu Frog Energy Dodge Truck, driven by Larry Foyt and the #56 Blu Frog Energy Chevy, also driven by Foyt.(thelimucompany.com)
AND “We’re really delighted to have The Limu Company and the new Blu Frog Energy drink as our sponsor,” said Cope, the 1990 Daytona 500 Champion. “We’re especially excited to create great synergy for the Blu Frog Energy brand in combination with Larry Foyt. It’s pretty rare but very powerful to have three separate vehicles creating major branding and awareness opportunities for the same company. This Speed Week should give a huge boost to the Blu Frog Energy brand!”
“All of us at The Limu Company are incredibly energized about our sponsorship positions at Daytona this year,” said Gary Raser, Founder, President and CEO of The Limu Company. “Our members across the U.S. and around the world, almost 50,000 strong, are huge NASCAR fans and can’t wait to see Derrike Cope and Larry Foyt race at Daytona with Blu Frog Energy. This incredible brand visibility comes at a perfect time for us, supporting our national launch of our new Blu Frog Energy Drink. And what better way to launch the brand than at Daytona! We’re thrilled to be going racing with NASCAR and to be a part of the Great American Race, and the most-watched racing weekend in America.”(Blu Frog/Limu Company PR), see image of the scheme on my #75 Team Scheme page.(2-3-2009)

Cope gets assoc. sponsor for Daytona: Cope/Keller Racing announced the acquisition of FW1 Project Top Secret as an Associate Sponsor for the February 12, 2009 Gatorade Duel 150 Qualifying race. Derrike Cope will pilot the #75 Cope/Keller Racing Dodge in the Gatorade Duel 150's in hopes to race in the February 15, 2009 Daytona 500. RGS Labs International based in Palm City, Florida manufactures FW1 Waterless Wash & Wax, which is sold at event marketing displays across the United States and worldwide. The FW1 Project Top Secret label is designed to raise awareness and funds for the U.S. Wounded Soldiers Foundation. Darren Ellsmore, President of RGS Labs said "FW1 Project Top Secret is excited for the opportunity to be involved with Derrike Cope and Cope/Keller Racing. As a prior Daytona 500 champion and fierce competitor we are certain Derrike is the right fit to raise awareness for both the FW1 brand and the U.S. Wounded Soldiers foundation."
"To have a product the caliber of FW1 Project Top Secret involved is a great opportunity," said Derrike Cope past Daytona 500 Champion. "We look forward to showcasing the product and bringing awareness to US Wounded Soldiers Foundation, it's a righteous cause and we're going to have a great Speedweeks."(Cope/Keller Racing PR)(1-26-2009)

Cope plans to run 1st 5 races: from Derrike Cope at Derrikecope.com: "We at Cope/Keller Racing have intentions of going to at least the first five Sprint Cup races as well as a Full truck schedule for one truck at this time. Obviously, that can change because sponsorship is key to all things as it is to all other entities. We have had discussions with a number of companies and look to finalize some relationships with some others here shortly. We are optimistic about the 2009 endeavors, but have a lot of work to do between now and the time we leave for Daytona...about 30 days!"(Derrikecope.com)(1-5-2009)

Sponsor for Cope? hearing that the #75 Cope/Keller team with Derrike Cope driving is on the verge of signing one of three major/primary sponsorships within the next week. Plans are to run a lmimited Cup scheule and run one or tow Truck Series teams. The team has purchased some Dodges from Ganassi Racing, which is now Earnhardt Ganassi Racing and will run Chevy's in 2009.(1-4-2009)

Cope plans to attempt Daytona 500: UPDATE: from Derrikecope.com: "A number of racing entities are struggling and being forced to alter their efforts for 2009. We are assessing where we are at and how we can continue to press on for next year. We at Cope/Keller Racing are gearing up for Daytona the best that we can. Our intent is to be at the Daytona 500 in February. We are actively searching for sponsorship to make that happen. We will continue to look towards the Truck and Nationwide series as well. The end of the year did not go the way we were hoping for, but we probably stretched ourselves a bit thin and the results were less than desirable. The one good thing is that our Sprint Cup efforts are pretty much on line for 2009. We have a bit of service work to do with regard to the trucks and Nationwide cars to ready ourselves. I have committed to an opportunity to drive for a Nationwide team next year, full schedule."(Derrikecope.com)(12-12-2008)
UPDATE: from DerrikeCope.com: "Gary Keller and I are preparing cars for the beginning of the 2009 Sprint Cup Series season. We will enter a one car team at Daytona and are preparing ourselves for a limited schedule beyond that with the possibility of continuing on to California and Las Vegas as well."(Derrikecope.com)(12-22-2008)

Cope to run at Martinsville: from Derrikecope.com - "I get to come back to the Cup Series with the #75 Cope/Keller Racing Dodge entry. Germane RED from Reading, PA will be on as an associate sponsor as well as Design Elite, a home interior design company based in Concord, NC."(Derrikecope.com)(10-15-2008)

Cope tests at Lowe's; may attempt 2 races: From Derrike Cope's web site: "The next thing on my schedule is to debut our COT car at Lowes Motor Speedway on Tuesday. It will be number #75 Cope/Keller Racing Dodge. We will only test for one day because the transporter will have to leave for Kansas...Provided all goes well there we plan on attempting Charlotte and Martinsville in the Sprint Cup Series."(DerrikeCope.com)(9-24-2008)