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| Cope Begins ASA Season with Renewed Zeal | By GARY ARDREY Tribune correspondent
Pinellas Park native Mike Cope, now living in Weeki Wachee, is a man on a mission again as he tries to revitalize an already accomplished career.
Cope is back competing in the American Speed Association (ASA) division, which opens its season Saturday night with the SK Hand Tool 200 at USA International Speedway in Lakeland.
Cope, owner and operator of Bronson Motor Speedway, grew up in a racing family. His father, Jim, raced modified coupes at Florida short tracks. His mother, Anna Lee, also spent time behind the wheel. Older brother Jimmy also is a veteran Florida short-track racer.
``I grew up around racing. I was going to races as a baby in a blanket at Sunshine Speedway,'' Cope said. ``As I got older, I knew that's what I wanted to do. I've never wanted to do anything else but race.''
He began his career at Sunshine Speedway in 1978 driving a 1965 Chevelle in the Thunder Car class. He scored his first career feature-event victory that year.
Cope quickly moved up through the ranks to Late Models, winning the 1982 Sportsman championship at Sunshine and Limited Late Model titles at Sunshine and Citrus County Speedway in 1985.
In 1990 Cope became a full-time competitor in the NASCAR All-Pro Touring series. He combined driving savvy and consistent front-of-the-pack finishes to earn All-Pro driving championships in 1994 and 1996 and runner-up finishes in 1993 and 1995.
In the late 1990s, Cope tried the NASCAR Craftsman Truck series and Busch Grand National series with limited success and in 2000 decided to return to his roots and form an ASA team of his own.
He thinks the series is a great place to race. ``Many of the drivers here are just as good as those in NASCAR Nextel Cup and the competition is great,'' Cope said. ``They just haven't had the opportunity to get there. I want to race where I can be competitive week in and week out. I'd rather race with a chance to win like I can with ASA rather than run 15th or 20th someplace else.''
Cope ran well with the ASA in 2001 and was runner-up for rookie of the year but left the series after just two events in 2002 after a rules misunderstanding with the sanctioning body.
He returned to the ASA in 2003, running well early before a brake fire on his car hauler damaged much of his racing equipment, causing him to miss a number of events.
Cope begins the 2004 season with renewed enthusiasm and the will to win.
``We're the most prepared and I'm the most confident I've ever been going into a new season,'' he said. ``We just need a little luck. We will win one or more races in 2004.''
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