WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. -- After slowing down in the inner loop on the 60th lap of Saturday’s Xfinity Series race at Watkins Glen International, Derrike Cope’s fortunes took a significant turn for the worse.
The 1990 Daytona 500 winner’s No. 70 Chevrolet was slowing down when its hood violently crumpled in a large plume of smoke that seemingly was caused by a detonation in the engine compartment. The blast also appeared to blow out the car’s tires.
NASCAR officials impounded the car for further examination of what caused the explosion.
Cope was seen at the care center and released with no report of injuries.