Derrike Cope, StarCom Racing Acquire Charter for 2018 Season

By Seth Eggert, Staff Writer

The constant shuffling of Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Charters continues. The latest recipient of a Charter that will guarantee a starting position for the 2018 season is StarCom Racing. Derrike Cope will drive the team’s No. 00 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in the 60^th running of the Daytona 500.

StarCom Racing debuted with Cope in 2017 at Kansas Speedway. The team debuted just weeks after Cope parted ways with Premium Motorsports. In their second and most recent start at ISM Raceway, Cope finished a respectable 32^nd in the No. 00 StarCom Fiber Chevrolet SS. Tony Furr will return as crew chief in 2018.

“What a wonderful opportunity it is for our organization to have secured a charter for 2018! We are so excited for Mike, Matt, Bill and Ashley at StarCom Racing for all their patience and generosity in facilitating this to happen,” comments Cope. “We have a strong and enthusiastic team that are now working with renewed vigor and we can’t wait to start the season.”

Cope has 424 NASCAR Premier Series starts to date. The Great American race will mark his 425^th career start. In those starts, he has two victories, six top-fives, 32 top-10s, and one pole position.

“We are pleased with the progress we have made this off-season to prepare ourselves for the Daytona 500 and 2018 season,” says Matthew Kohler, SCR President. “Acquiring a Charter for the season has allowed us to escalate our program to the next level, which is a major step for our young team. We are looking forward to bringing top-notch equipment and excitement to the garage.”

While StarCom Racing continues to prepare for their first full season, they are actively seeking new sponsorship for 2018. It is also unclear if Cope will drive throughout the entirety of the season or if the team will have a variety of drivers.