Derrike Cope is pursuing other opportunities
Derrike Cope brought out a caution with 3 laps remaining at Richmond Raceway. He entered high in turn 3, the car went straight and into the wall.
That was a race changing moment for race leader Martin Truex Jr. After restarting from the lead, Truex tangled with Hamlin and ended up in the wall. After climbing from the car, Truex had some thoughts on Derrike Cope.
Derrike Cope has since announced that he will part ways with his current MENCS team. Did the words from Martin Truex Jr spark Cope’s announcement?
Read the quotes from both drivers below.
RICHMOND, VA – SEPTEMBER: Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Auto-Owners Insurance Toyota, drives during Practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Virginia.
Martin Truex Jr
“Yeah, I mean, I just don’t agree with the caution,” Martin Truex Jr told NBCSN. “I think it’s ridiculous that, again, there’s a guy out there that shouldn’t even be out there, 20 some laps down, riding around.
“As slow as he is, he can’t even hold his damn line. It’s ridiculous. He scrapes the wall, they throw a caution with (three) to go. That’s not what racing should be.
“I’m mad about that. But I have to go back and watch the tape, see how it exactly played out. I’m madder about all that than I am about losing. Just a hard way to lose ’em.”
“I don’t even think [Cope] makes minimum speed, and really doesn’t even belong out there,” Truex said after Richmond in the media center. “I don’t know if he apparently scraped the wall a few times, and I don’t know, couldn’t stay in the racetrack as slow as he was going. It’s unfortunate they threw a caution for that, and I don’t know if it should have been thrown or not.
“I just think that’s ridiculous that a guy could cause a caution with (three laps) to go as bad as he’s running and just riding around there basically just making laps. Yeah, it’s pretty dumb.”
Derrike Cope 2017 at Richmond Raceway
Derrike Cope
After Richmond, Derrike Cope has parted way’s with his team.
“I’m thankful to Jay Robinson and the folks at Premium for the opportunity they have given me this season to return to the Cup Series but the timing is right to pursue other opportunities,” Derrike Cope was quoted on his future.
Author: Shane Walters
Source :https://racingnews.co/
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