08/06/2023 – 1990 Daytona 500 Champion Derrike Cope had a truly nightmarish season in 1999 when he and Pontiac owner Chuck Rider lined up a rotating group of four sponsors through parent company Consolidated Foods to adorn their sharp looking 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix’s. As the graphic shows, the sponsors were committed and hopes were high before the season started. Following an acceptable 18th place finish at the 1999 Daytona 500, the misery and misfortune began.
Cope DNQ’d for Race #2 at Rockingham, which meant the Rudy’s Farm Pontiac never took a green flag. The next 21 races were a combination of DNQ’s (10 races) and an average finish of 35th (not including the Daytona 500) for the other 11 races. Cope was released by Rider following Cope only qualifying for race 20 of races 17-through-22. Overall, Cope managed to get Jimmy Dean in eight races, State Fair in two, and Bryan Foods one; the DNQ menu was Jimmy Dean missing seven races, Bryan Foods two, Rudy’s Farm one, and State Fair one.
Pontiac Racing 