Cope back in the #49 at Atlanta UPDATE and rest of 2002: Derrike Cope will return to driving duties at Atlanta in the #49 BAM Racing Dodge.(BAM Racing Site)(10-18-2002) UPDATE: Derrike Cope will take the wheel of the #49 BAM Racing Dodge for the rest of the season, beginning with this week’ NAPA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Beth Ann Morgenthau, owner of the NASCAR Winston Cup team along with her husband Tony, made the announcement. Cope will be returning to NASCAR competition for the first time since he was injured in a violent crash during a BGN race in September at Richmond. The former Daytona 500 winner had been talking with Morgenthau about finishing this season with the team at that point. “Derrike did a tremendous job for us at Michigan, the first time he had driven our equipment,” Morgenthau said, “and continued to run well at Bristol the next week. We were off for two weeks with our partial schedule and had decided at that point to have him in our car for the rest of our year. Unfortunately, he was injured at Richmond in the Busch race. We used that time period to look at a couple of other drivers but anticipated Derrike’ return,” she said. “He is back and ready to race. Were excited to have him drive the BAM Racing Dodge the rest of the season.” BAM’ schedule includes this week’ race at Hampton, Ga., and the final two events of the season – Nov. 10 at Phoenix, Ariz., and Nov. 17 at Homestead, FL. “These final three races of the season are opportunities for us to continue advancing and continue fine-tuning our team,” Morgenthau said. “The feedback we will get from Derrike, like what he has offered our team previously, will help us to grow, and to get ready for a strong charge next season.”(Williams Company PR)(10-21-2002)
