Cope Family Racing Overview
Cope Family Racing is an American professional stock car racing team that competes in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. Founded in 2001 and based in Mooresville, North Carolina, the team is owned by Derrike Cope, Kevin Cope, and Stanton Barrett through a partnership. The team currently fields the No. 30 Chevrolet Camaro SS full-time in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series through a collaboration with Stanton Barrett Motorsports. Cope Family Racing has competed across multiple NASCAR national series throughout its existence, including the Sprint Cup Series, Xfinity Series, Truck Series, and ARCA Racing Series. Despite extensive participation spanning over two decades, the team has yet to secure any race victories or championships. The organization has undergone numerous name changes and partnership restructuring throughout its history and reopened in 2025 after a brief closure before the 2017 season.
Founding and Organizational Origins
The team originally opened as Quest Motor Racing in 2001, with Derrike Cope serving as both driver and co-owner alongside Warren Johnson, a prominent drag racer. Cope initially attempted to compete with the No. 37 K&N Filters Pontiac but never successfully made a race start during that inaugural season. The organization returned in 2002, switching to Ford equipment and fielding the No. 38 GEICO Ford for Kevin Lepage at the Coca-Cola 600. During the 2003 Winston Cup season, the team planned to attempt all 36 races in the No. 37 Friendly’s Ice Cream Chevrolet but managed to enter only eighteen events due to budget constraints that limited the team’s operational capacity compared to larger competitors.
The 2003 season brought significant challenges for Cope and his organization. Cope attempted the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway but failed to qualify for the event. A subsequent merger with Arnold Motorsports created the No. 50 Arnold Motorsports Dodge for the 2004 season, utilizing Cope’s 2003 owner points to improve qualifying chances. Cope successfully made the Daytona 500 that year, finishing 30th after being involved in a crash. A few weeks later at Darlington Raceway, Cope qualified an impressive fifth and ran near the front for most of the race before a pit road issue relegated the team to a 25th-place finish. Following the Coca-Cola 600, Cope and Arnold split, with Cope taking his equipment away from the organization but leaving Arnold with the accumulated owner points.
Growth Into NASCAR Competition
Throughout the mid-to-late 2000s, Cope Family Racing expanded its operations across multiple NASCAR national series while navigating numerous ownership and naming changes. In 2008, the organization rebranded as Cope/Keller Racing and made two attempts in the Sprint Cup Series, failing to qualify for both events. That same year, the team launched its NASCAR Nationwide Series program, fielding entries for several drivers on a partial schedule. The ARCA Racing Series also saw Cope’s organization make its debut that year, fielding the No. 70 Dodge for Cope’s niece Amber Cope at Kentucky Speedway, where she started 15th and finished 38th after a crash. Amber returned for one more ARCA start at Chicagoland Speedway, starting 26th and finishing 29th.
The 2009 season brought new partnerships as Cope and Keller joined forces with Dale Clemons on December 14 to form Stratus Racing Group, competing across ARCA, Nationwide, Truck, and Cup Series. The organization fielded cars at all levels in 2010, including two ARCA entries and multiple Nationwide and Truck Series efforts. The Sprint Cup program operated part-time in 2010 and increased its schedule in 2011. During this period, Cope’s nieces Angela and Amber Cope made their Truck Series debuts at Martinsville Speedway in 2010, with Angela finishing 30th in the No. 01 Odyssey Batteries Dodge Ram and Amber placing 26th in the No. 6 Dodge Ram.
Cope Family Racing Competitive Journey
Cope Family Racing has navigated a complex competitive trajectory across NASCAR’s national series over more than two decades of operation. The organization has fielded entries in the Sprint Cup Series, Xfinity Series, Truck Series, and ARCA Racing Series, accumulating 214 total race starts across all divisions. The team has competed with various car numbers including 30, 37, 38, 70, 73, 74, 75, 78, 79, 14, 17, 68, and 97. Despite this extensive participation, the organization has yet to achieve a race victory or pole position in any NASCAR national series. The team has undergone continuous evolution through partnerships, mergers, and rebranding efforts as different co-owners joined and departed the organization.
Early Seasons and Development (2001–2008)
The formative years of Cope’s racing organization were marked by limited resources and inconsistent participation. The team made its debut in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2001, fielding the No. 37 Ford for Damon Lusk at Texas Motor Speedway. The truck program returned in 2002 with Matt Mullins as driver at the season opener at Daytona. The organization continued to operate at a modest scale throughout the early 2000s, with Cope often serving dual roles as driver and team owner. The Friendly’s Ice Cream sponsorship during the 2003 Cup season provided one of the team’s more significant partnerships, though budget limitations prevented the team from completing a full schedule.
The partnership with Don Arnold and Arnold Motorsports in 2004 represented an attempt to consolidate resources and improve competitive positioning. While Cope qualified for the Daytona 500 and showed competitive speed at Darlington with a fifth-place starting position, the collaboration dissolved after just a few races. The organization struggled to maintain consistent sponsorship and technical partnerships during this developmental phase, often entering races without sufficient funding to complete events competitively. This pattern of underfunding would persist throughout much of the team’s history, limiting the organization’s ability to challenge for results.
Breakthrough in Nationwide Series (2014–2016)
The 2014 season marked Cope Family Racing’s most ambitious full-time effort, with the organization purchasing all assets from former ML Motorsports to compete full-time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. The team fielded the No. 70 Chevrolet Camaro and tested at Daytona International Speedway during the annual January testing event. At the Drive for COPD 300 season opener at Daytona, the team qualified and finished 37th after experiencing various difficulties during the race. Charlies Soap sponsored the car through the first four races, including a 28th-place finish at Bristol Motor Speedway, before Youtheory took over as primary sponsor beginning at Auto Club Speedway and continuing through most of the season.
Cope achieved his best finish of the 2014 season at the Firecracker 300 at Daytona in July, placing 13th. The team ended the year 23rd in owner points standings, representing the organization’s strongest championship position in recent memory. The 2015 season proved significantly more challenging as the team missed the season opener and encountered numerous problems throughout the year. During the California race weekend, Cope’s team hauler was surrounded by African Swarming Bees, creating additional difficulties for the organization. Sponsorship problems plagued the effort, and Cope missed qualifying at Talladega when his car lacked sufficient speed to make the field. However, Cope gained entry to the July 4th race at Daytona after the No. 13 MBM Motorsports car driven by Mark Thompson was found to be illegal, with Thompson’s qualifying position given to Cope.
Resurgence and Current Direction (2025–Present)
During an appearance on The Dale Jr. Download podcast, Cope hinted at re-entering NASCAR competition, with the Xfinity Series being the likely destination. This plans materialized in January 2025 when Cope Family Racing was officially announced as returning to competition. Leland Honeyman and Thomas Annunziata were announced as drivers for the team’s No. 70 Chevrolet entry. The revived organization formed a technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing and ECR Engines, providing the team with stronger manufacturer support than it had possessed in previous seasons.
In 2026, Cope Family Racing entered a new partnership with Stanton Barrett Motorsports, with Stanton Barrett returning to the series for the first time since 2008 and to NASCAR competition for the first time since 2015. The No. 70 car from 2025 was renumbered to the No. 30 for the re-branded Stanton Barrett Motorsports entry, as the number had been previously run by SBM during their earlier stint in the series. On January 5, 2026, the newly merged operation was officially announced as Barrett–Cope Racing. Argentinian driver Baltazar Leguizamón was announced as the team’s first driver, scheduled to compete at COTA, Martinsville in the spring, and Watkins Glen, with additional drivers yet to be determined for the remaining races.
Philosophy and Competitive Strengths
Cope Family Racing has historically operated as a smaller independent organization focusing on providing opportunities for drivers who might not otherwise have access to NASCAR competition. The team’s partnership structure has repeatedly emphasized collaboration with other owners and technical partners to maximize limited resources. The organization has shown a willingness to compete across multiple series simultaneously when circumstances permit, demonstrating flexibility in its competitive approach. The 2025 resurgence with Richard Childress Racing and ECR Engines alliance indicates a strategic shift toward stronger technical partnerships as the foundation for future competition.
Key Milestones and Major Moments
Throughout its existence, Cope Family Racing has achieved several notable milestones despite not securing victories. The 2004 Daytona 500 qualification and 30th-place finish represented a significant accomplishment given the team’s limited resources at the time. Cope’s fifth-place qualifying effort at Darlington in 2004 demonstrated that the team could compete near the front when circumstances aligned. The 2014 season full-time Nationwide Series effort and 13th-place finish at the Firecracker 300 at Daytona stands as one of the team’s strongest performances. The 2026 partnership with Stanton Barrett Motorsports and the Barrett–Cope Racing formation marked a new chapter for the organization, combining two established racing operations in pursuit of improved competitive results.
Cope Family Racing Achievements and Results
Throughout more than two decades of competition, Cope Family Racing has accumulated extensive experience across NASCAR’s national series without achieving race victories or championships. The organization has completed 214 total race starts across the Cup Series, O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, Truck Series, and ARCA Racing Series combined. The team has competed in 22 Cup Series events, 165 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races, 19 Truck Series events, and 8 ARCA Racing Series entries. Despite these numerous attempts, the organization has not secured any race victories, pole positions, or series championships across any division.
O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Achievements
The O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (formerly Nationwide Series) represents the most extensive competitive history for Cope Family Racing, with 165 race starts. The 2014 season served as the team’s most comprehensive full-time effort in this series, with Cope finishing 23rd in owner points while posting a best finish of 13th at the Firecracker 300 at Daytona. The team competed with sponsorship from Charlies Soap, Youtheory, and other partners throughout that season, demonstrating the ability to secure primary sponsorship for a full-time effort. The 2015 and 2016 seasons saw continued participation with varying degrees of success, including DNQ attempts and occasional top-25 finishes.
Sprint Cup Series Achievements
Cope Family Racing’s Cup Series history spans 22 race starts across multiple seasons. The 2003 season saw the team attempt eighteen races with Friendly’s Ice Cream sponsorship, representing one of the organization’s most significant Cup Series efforts. Cope qualified for the 2004 Daytona 500 through the partnership with Arnold Motorsports, finishing 30th after involvement in a crash. The fifth-place qualifying effort at Darlington during the same season remains one of the organization’s strongest Cup Series performances. The team continued occasional Cup Series attempts through 2011 and beyond, though without achieving breakthrough results.
Truck Series Achievements
The Camping World Truck Series provided Cope Family Racing with competition opportunities dating back to 2001, with the team making 19 total starts in the division. The truck program served as a development platform, with Cope’s nieces Angela and Amber Cope making their NASCAR debuts in this series at Martinsville in 2010. Multiple drivers contributed to the truck efforts over the years, including Michelle Theriault, Nick Tucker, Jennifer Jo Cobb, Larry Gunselman, and others. The organization typically competed on a limited schedule in the Truck Series rather than pursuing full-time efforts.
ARCA Racing Series Achievements
Cope Family Racing accumulated 8 ARCA Racing Series starts, with the program beginning in 2008 through partnerships with various drivers and car numbers. The organization fielded entries for drivers including Amber Cope, Jennifer Jo Cobb, Nur Ali, Garrett Smithley, and Jack Clarke across different seasons and tracks. Notable efforts included the partnership with Carter 2 Motorsports to field the No. 97 Dodge for British racer Jack Clarke at Salem Speedway in 2012. The ARCA program typically operated as part-time efforts supplementing the organization’s primary focus on NASCAR national series competition.