After spending the last several years racing primarily in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, 1990 Daytona 500 winner Derrike Cope will return to drive in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in 2017.
Cope will drive a limited schedule in the No. 55 Chevrolet for Premium Motorsports, according to Cope’s Twitter account and Facebook page and confirmed to NBC Sports by Cope’s wife.
Cope may drive a full schedule with the team if additional sponsorship becomes available.
Cope’s first race with the team will be the March 5 Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 on March 5 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Cope’s last Cup start was in 2011. He has 409 career Cup starts with two wins and 32 top-10 finishes. Both wins came in 1990 -- the Daytona 500 and at Dover International Speedway.
Cope also has 280 career Xfinity starts with one win and eight top 10s. He also has 15 Camping World Truck starts.
Cope will not race in the Xfinity Series in 2017. According to an email from Cope’s wife, he is in the process of selling his Xfinity equipment.
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