Angela Cope
Encyclopedia
Angela Christine Cope and Amber Nicole Cope
(both born August 18, 1983) are professional NASCAR
drivers. They made NASCAR
history on October 23, 2010 by being the first twins to compete in one of the top three series in NASCAR
. That day they made their NASCAR debut in the Camping World Truck Series in Martinsville, VA. Amber Cope, driving the No. 6 Dodge, finished 26th, while Angela Cope was involved in two incidents within 18 laps of each other early in the race and finished 30th.
They began racing in Go-Karts at age 9. They quickly gained attention by winning poles and races year after year. By age 15 they stepped up to late-model race cars—even before they had driver’s licenses.
Angela Cope took 1st place in 2002 at the Lucas Oil Can-Am 150 at the Sun Valley Speedway.
In 1995, Angela finished 1st and Amber finished 3rd in the Tri-cities Gold Cup "Yamaha Class". By 1998, both girls were PSGKA Gold Cup winners in the "Junior Piston Port".
Both girls split seat time in 2006 at the ARCA Re/Max Series at Berlin, Gateway, Chicagoland, Milwaukee Mile, and Toledo, Ohio. By 2008, the twins qualified for the ARCA Re/Max Series at Kentucky Speedway, with positions 8 and 15.
By 1964, brothers Don and Jerry moved to the Pacific Northwest and set up residence. They established a family business, “The Cope Brothers Machine Shop,” in Spanaway, Washington, to support their three children (Derrike
, Darren, and Tamara).
In 1966, the brothers got back into the drag-racing scene and took the NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) Division Six Championship in 1970. Although they were never far from the racing scene, they continued their successful family business. The Cope Family has maintained their passion for racing down through the generations.
In 1977, Darren Cope, Amber and Angela's father, made his racing debut in drag racing. Darren and brother Derrike
began racing late-model cars in 1979. Darren and Derrike
each traded off racing the car on alternate nights. After the first year of Late-Model Racing, Darren decided to pursue other interests, so Derrike's racing career then began in earnest.
Derrike raced on the West Coast from 1979–1985. He raced the Winston Cup in 1986 and won the Daytona 500 in 1990.
1983 marked the start of the third generation of Cope racers when fraternal twins Amber and Angela were born to Darren and Mary on August 18. The race goes on.
. Once they began competing locally, the girls made a name for themselves and became the most accomplished go-kart racers in the Greater Puget Sound region. In their seven years of driving go-karts included 50 first place wins and setting on pole position 20 times in the Pacific Northwest. Angela also set new track records at five of six tracks in the same region.
At the young age of 15, they progressed to late model race cars even before they had their license to drive. In 2000, a very short time after their debut in late model stock cars they instantly acquired national attention when they were featured on Bryant Gumble “Good Morning Today.”
As Amber and Angela became more experienced and confident behind the wheel, they knew that in order to pursue a career in NASCAR
they would have to leave Washington. They moved across the country to Charlotte, North Carolina to start training with their Uncle Derrike. The twins put all of their focus into learning the in and outs of professional racing. They traveled with their Uncle Derrike to every Cup race that he went to and became fixtures on the track and in the pit.
In 2006, the twins split seat time at the Automobile Racing Club of America’s (ARCA) Re/Max Series at Berlin, Gateway, Chicagoland, Milwaukee and Toledo, Ohio. In 2008, they qualified for the ARCA Re/Max Series at Kentucky Speedway with positions 8 and 15. The most difficult part of the ARCA Re/Max Series was that they had to share a car. At times, there would be three weeks before one of them would get back into the seat, losing precious learning time; however, it was a great series for the twins performance-wise.
2011 is shaping up to be the busiest year for the twins. On May 22, 2011 they will also be racing against their Uncle Derrike. In addition to their race in Newton, Iowa they will continue on to compete in five to six more races throughout the year.
Amber and Angela currently reside in Davidson
, North Carolina
.
Amber Cope
Amber Nicole Cope and Angela Christine Cope are professional NASCAR drivers. They made NASCAR history on October 23, 2010 by being the first twins to compete in one of the top three series in NASCAR. That day they made their NASCAR debut in the Camping World Truck Series in Martinsville, VA...
(both born August 18, 1983) are professional NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
drivers. They made NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
history on October 23, 2010 by being the first twins to compete in one of the top three series in NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
. That day they made their NASCAR debut in the Camping World Truck Series in Martinsville, VA. Amber Cope, driving the No. 6 Dodge, finished 26th, while Angela Cope was involved in two incidents within 18 laps of each other early in the race and finished 30th.
They began racing in Go-Karts at age 9. They quickly gained attention by winning poles and races year after year. By age 15 they stepped up to late-model race cars—even before they had driver’s licenses.
Angela Cope took 1st place in 2002 at the Lucas Oil Can-Am 150 at the Sun Valley Speedway.
In 1995, Angela finished 1st and Amber finished 3rd in the Tri-cities Gold Cup "Yamaha Class". By 1998, both girls were PSGKA Gold Cup winners in the "Junior Piston Port".
Both girls split seat time in 2006 at the ARCA Re/Max Series at Berlin, Gateway, Chicagoland, Milwaukee Mile, and Toledo, Ohio. By 2008, the twins qualified for the ARCA Re/Max Series at Kentucky Speedway, with positions 8 and 15.
Family History
Amber and Angela's grandfather, Donald Cope, began his racing career at age 18 in 1955. Donald drag-raced motorcycles until 1957. Don and his brothers, Guy and Jerry, then raced front-motor top-fuel dragsters in 1958.By 1964, brothers Don and Jerry moved to the Pacific Northwest and set up residence. They established a family business, “The Cope Brothers Machine Shop,” in Spanaway, Washington, to support their three children (Derrike
Derrike Cope
Derrike Cope is a NASCAR driver. He is best known for his win in the 1990 Daytona 500. He currently drives the #28 Chevrolet for Jay Robinson Racing in the Nationwide Series and the #75 Chevrolet/Dodge for his own team in the Sprint Cup Series.-Early years:Cope was born in San Diego, California...
, Darren, and Tamara).
In 1966, the brothers got back into the drag-racing scene and took the NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) Division Six Championship in 1970. Although they were never far from the racing scene, they continued their successful family business. The Cope Family has maintained their passion for racing down through the generations.
In 1977, Darren Cope, Amber and Angela's father, made his racing debut in drag racing. Darren and brother Derrike
Derrike Cope
Derrike Cope is a NASCAR driver. He is best known for his win in the 1990 Daytona 500. He currently drives the #28 Chevrolet for Jay Robinson Racing in the Nationwide Series and the #75 Chevrolet/Dodge for his own team in the Sprint Cup Series.-Early years:Cope was born in San Diego, California...
began racing late-model cars in 1979. Darren and Derrike
Derrike Cope
Derrike Cope is a NASCAR driver. He is best known for his win in the 1990 Daytona 500. He currently drives the #28 Chevrolet for Jay Robinson Racing in the Nationwide Series and the #75 Chevrolet/Dodge for his own team in the Sprint Cup Series.-Early years:Cope was born in San Diego, California...
each traded off racing the car on alternate nights. After the first year of Late-Model Racing, Darren decided to pursue other interests, so Derrike's racing career then began in earnest.
Derrike raced on the West Coast from 1979–1985. He raced the Winston Cup in 1986 and won the Daytona 500 in 1990.
1983 marked the start of the third generation of Cope racers when fraternal twins Amber and Angela were born to Darren and Mary on August 18. The race goes on.
Biography
Amber and Angela Cope became the third generation of Cope’s to enter into the world of racing, when, at the young age of nine, the girls’ parents gave them a go-kart for Christmas and thus began their road to NASCARNASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
. Once they began competing locally, the girls made a name for themselves and became the most accomplished go-kart racers in the Greater Puget Sound region. In their seven years of driving go-karts included 50 first place wins and setting on pole position 20 times in the Pacific Northwest. Angela also set new track records at five of six tracks in the same region.
At the young age of 15, they progressed to late model race cars even before they had their license to drive. In 2000, a very short time after their debut in late model stock cars they instantly acquired national attention when they were featured on Bryant Gumble “Good Morning Today.”
As Amber and Angela became more experienced and confident behind the wheel, they knew that in order to pursue a career in NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
they would have to leave Washington. They moved across the country to Charlotte, North Carolina to start training with their Uncle Derrike. The twins put all of their focus into learning the in and outs of professional racing. They traveled with their Uncle Derrike to every Cup race that he went to and became fixtures on the track and in the pit.
In 2006, the twins split seat time at the Automobile Racing Club of America’s (ARCA) Re/Max Series at Berlin, Gateway, Chicagoland, Milwaukee and Toledo, Ohio. In 2008, they qualified for the ARCA Re/Max Series at Kentucky Speedway with positions 8 and 15. The most difficult part of the ARCA Re/Max Series was that they had to share a car. At times, there would be three weeks before one of them would get back into the seat, losing precious learning time; however, it was a great series for the twins performance-wise.
2011 is shaping up to be the busiest year for the twins. On May 22, 2011 they will also be racing against their Uncle Derrike. In addition to their race in Newton, Iowa they will continue on to compete in five to six more races throughout the year.
Amber and Angela currently reside in Davidson
Davidson
Davidson is the name of:* Davidson * Davidson Media Group* Davidson Seamount, undersea mountain southwest of Monterey, California, USA* Tyler Davidson Fountain, monument in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
.
Achievements/Awards
- 1995 – Tri-cities Gold Cup. Angela finishes first in the "Yamaha Class".
- 1998 – PSGKA Gold Cup winner in the "Junior Piston Port".
- 2002 – Angela Cope takes 1st place in the Lucas Oil Can-Am 150 at the Sun Valley Speedway.
- 2006 – Both twins split seat time in the ARCA Re/Max series at Berlin, Gateway, Chicagoland, Milwaukee Mile and Toledo Ohio.
- 2008 – Both girls qualify for the ARCA Re/Max series at Kentucky Speedway, in the 8th and 15th spot
- 2010 – The twins race in Martinsville Virginia in the NASCARNASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Camping World Truck
Live Interview link and articles
- Amber and Angela Cope hope to mix fashion, fierce racing in NASCAR.
- NACAR News Stories
- Arca Re/max Kentucky Test(2008 Top Speeds)
- Arca Re/Max Kentucky Amber and Angela Cope (2008)
- 2006 Hantz Group 200 by Belle Tire & It's Mighty - Ezy Amber Cope - Toledo Speedway?
- Arca Re/Max 2006 Sara Lee / GFS Marketplace 200
- Arca Re/Max 2008 Chicagoland - Amber Cope
- "Summit Your Life" live Interview
- Notable Twins in Sports
- Twins are about to get a Double Injection
- 1998 Junior Sportsman and 1999 Junior Superbox titles in addition to the presti-gious 1998 Gold Cup title in the Junior Piston Port class.