Thirty years since ‘The Upset’ at Daytona

By Tim Packman

SALISBURY, N.C. – “What the heck just happened?!” “Oh no, Dale is slowing down!” “I can’t believe this!”   “Who??… Who won?!”

Those were some common sentiments echoed after the final lap of the 1990 Daytona 500. The No. 3 Chevrolet of Dale Earnhardt was leading when the white flag was waved.

He had already done that for 154 prior laps and at one point had a 40-second lead over the field. Now, with only one circuit remaining to claim the elusive Great American Race victory, he just needed to course through turns 1 & 2, down the backstretch, through 3 & 4 and the trioval to claim the Harley J. Earl Trophy.

Easily leading through 1 & 2, he headed down the backstretch. Along the way, he ran over a piece of bell housing from when Rick Wilson’s engine let go laps earlier.

As “The Intimidator” led the field into Turn 3, the iconic black Chevrolet washed up the track. He slowed down…he lost the lead…and lost the race. Close on his bumper was a North Western driver from Spanaway, WA in an orange and white No. 10 Purolator Lumina.

The crowd was stunned by what they just saw in Turn 3, heck even Pit Road was shocked at what was taking place. In front of a capacity crowd and millions watching on TV, Derrike Cope shocked the world as raced under the checkered flag and claiming his first Cup victory.

Cope, who’s best finish to this point was sixth, had just committed “The Upset” by winning the Daytona 500 on a last-lap pass of fan-favorite Earnhardt.

Now, 30 years later, Cope sat down with KKT to recall the historic moment.

Gut Feeling on Saturday

Cope, now the General Manager of the No. 00 StarCom Racing team in the NASCAR Cup Series, can vividly remember what took place leading up to the race, the race and the finish.

After the Daytona 500 practice on Saturday, he made a phone call to share a feeling he had.

“The car was really fast and strong during the final practice,” Cope said. “My crew chief Buddy Parrot and I both agreed we were going to be competitive on Sunday. He and the crew had done a great job of building that car.

“My engine tuner Richie Gilmore (now the head of ECR Engines) and one other guy actually drove the engine back to Charlotte after qualifying. We took it back to our engine builder to make sure everything was just right.

“After practice, I called my brother back home and told him I had a feeling we could win the Daytona 500. I’m not sure if he believed me, but he did after Sunday.”

Back in Spanaway, WA the local CBS affiliate was showing the NBA Seattle Supersonics game instead of the Daytona 500. As the race went on, viewers noticed their home town driver was doing pretty well and they made their sentiments heard.

“My dad had to drive an hour away so he could watch the race on TV in a hotel,” Cope recalled. “He and some friends were watching it there because the local channel chose to show the game instead of the race.

“When people started to realize I was having a good race, they started calling the station in droves to get them to switch over. They actually listened and aired what was left of the Daytona 500.

“From what I heard; it was quite the party in that hotel after the race for my dad and his friends.”

Those Final Laps

Cope had been in the top five towards the end as one of only seven cars on the lead lap. The third, and final caution waved for Geoff Bodine’s spin in Turn 1 on lap 193.

While Earnhardt, Terry Labonte and Bill Elliott hit pit road for fresh tires, Parrot made the call to stay out. The green flag waved with five laps remaining and Cope was out front.

“Buddy and I had a deal, I drove the car and he fixed it,” Cope said. “I never questioned any of his decisions. On an earlier pit stop, I radioed in the car was loose.

“As we made the stop for fuel and tires, I looked in the mirror and they were pounding on the spoiler to lay it down more. I was already loose, now I was going to be REALLY loose.”

As Cope led, Earnhardt restarted third and quickly raced back to the lead. With the No. 10 Purolater car now in second, Cope was able to assess where he stacked up with the cars behind him.

After both Labonte and Elliott took a shot to get by, he knew he could hold them at the end.

“When they failed to get by me, I kept running low because I knew they didn’t have anything for me. It was going to be just me and Dale for the win.”

The White Flag Flies

As the seven lead-lap cars began the final lap, Earnhardt looked like a shoo-in to take the win. He was sitting right where he needed to be to get the elusive Daytona 500 victory.

Through Turns 1 & 2 they go, no change in positions. Down the backstretch, things are still the same.

Going into Turn 3, the fickle finger of fate reached out and touched the outcome of the race…very quickly.

Unbeknownst to everyone was the fact Earnhardt had run over that piece of bell housing from Wilson’s blown engine on the backstretch. As the field entered the final turns, the No. 3 Chevrolet washed up the track with a right-rear flat.

“I saw him wiggle a little and knew something was up with Dale,” Cope said. “When he did that, I had such a run on him I thought we seriously going to wreck. I mean, it was either go through him, or by him.

“When I did go by, I just kept my foot in the gas and ran the same line that worked for me all day. I looked up in the mirror and noticed Labonte and Elliott weren’t gaining on me.

“I kept looking straight ahead looking for the checkered flags. When I crossed under them, it was like a huge ball of air came out of me. The excitement, pent up adrenaline and energy I had going on through the race just all came out.”

As his helmet was filled with everyone screaming on the radio, Cope took the accolades of his fellow drivers as they went by on the cool-down lap. His thoughts went to his Dad who would have told him to get out of the car, conduct yourself in a professional manner and act like you’ve been here before.

There was just one slight problem he had after the race.

Derrike Cope celebrates after winning the 1990 Daytona 500 #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/FwpTYunfkc

— Classic Nascar (@classicnascar) December 3, 2014

Hey Guys, Where’s Victory Lane?

Being this was only Cope’s third Daytona 500 start; he needed some guidance to get to the one place which is every driver’s goal after the race – Victory Lane. After some help from Parrott, Cope pulled in and that’s when the fun began.

“To see all those smiling faces, everyone so happy, the people that worked so hard on the car and all the people from Purolater is something I will never forget. To stand on the door and raise my arms skyward in a NASCAR Victory Lane, and to do it for the Daytona 500, was a great feeling.

“You do the TV and radio interviews, the Hat Dance, all the pictures, then up to the Daytona Club for champagne toasts and more pictures. It took a while and the whole time I’m still in my firesuit.

“When I finally got back to the garage, my hauler and the driver were pretty much the only ones left. I changed into my clothes, headed over to a hotel on the beach where the party started with everyone.”

For the following week, Cope and the team got ready for Richmond Raceway the next weekend. The accolades and congratulations continued, but it still hadn’t sunk in with him that he did, in fact, win the Daytona 500 and will forever be considered a champion of the race.

When it Hit

It was an odd place when the Daytona 500 winner from just days ago was, indeed, the champion of the iconic race.

“I was set to go on David Letterman on Friday night,” Cope reflected. “I was sitting in the Green Room, the show is live and I’m about to step out there. The only reason I’m there is because I won the Daytona 500.

“The overall significance hit me right then, and it’s stayed with me ever since. Here we are 30 years later and people still stop and talk to me about that win.

“They tell me where they were, their reaction and want to take a photo or get an autograph. It’s nice to know others remember because I sure haven’t forgotten what a great achievement and moment that was for me and so many others.

“I still wear my Daytona 500 ring every day. That moment and race still means the world to me.”