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 headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina, the team fields the No. 30 Chevrolet Camaro SS full-time through a partnership with Stanton Barrett Motorsports. The team is owned by a partnership led by Derrike Cope, Kevin Cope, and Stanton Barrett, three figures who have guided the organization through multiple identities and competitive eras. Across more than two decades of operation, Cope Family Racing has competed in the Sprint Cup Series, the Xfinity Series, the Camping World Truck Series, and the ARCA Racing Series.
Although the team has logged more than 214 starts across NASCAR’s national touring divisions, it has yet to record a race victory, pole position, or drivers’ championship. The organization is widely recognized for its persistence, its willingness to partner with smaller operations, and its role in developing emerging drivers. Cope Family Racing re-opened in 2025 after a brief closure, signaling a renewed commitment to competitive racing in NASCAR’s second-tier series.
Founding and Organizational Origins
The organization opened in 2001 under the name Quest Motor Racing, with driver Derrike Cope co-owning the team alongside Warren Johnson, a noted drag racer. The team’s first competitive entry came in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at Texas in 2001, fielding the No. 37 Ford for Damon Lusk. The early operation was built on modest sponsorship, a small crew, and Cope’s experience as a former Daytona 500 winner looking to establish a sustainable team platform.
Throughout its first few years, the team operated on limited budgets and frequently relied on short-term sponsorship agreements. Brands such as K&N Filters, Friendly’s Ice Cream, and GEICO appeared on the team’s cars during early Cup and Nationwide efforts. These early partnerships, while inconsistent, provided the financial foundation that allowed the team to attempt races at premier venues, including the Daytona 500, the Coca-Cola 600, and the Coca-Cola Racing Family 600 at Charlotte.
Growth Into NASCAR Competition
The team’s transition into NASCAR’s national touring series began in 2002 with a Cup Series entry at Charlotte and a Truck Series run at Daytona. In 2003, the operation attempted a nearly full 36-race Cup schedule in the No. 37 Friendly’s Ice Cream Chevrolet, making eighteen of those races. Following a brief merger with Arnold Motorsports in 2004, the team continued to expand its footprint into the Nationwide Series, the Truck Series, and the ARCA Racing Series, often under evolving names such as Cope/Keller Racing, Stratus Racing Group, and CFK Motorsports.
By the late 2000s, the organization had developed a multi-car structure that fielded entries across several divisions. Key personnel, including co-owners and alliance partners such as Dale Clemons and Doug Keller, helped shape the team’s operational model. The team also began running limited schedules for younger drivers and family members, including Cope’s nieces Angela and Amber Cope, who made their Truck Series debuts at Martinsville in 2010.
Cope Family Racing Competitive Journey
Cope Family Racing has navigated more than two decades of NASCAR competition, transitioning between Cup, Nationwide (now Xfinity and O’Reilly Auto Parts), Truck, and ARCA programs while operating under several different team names. The organization’s journey reflects a pattern of adaptability, with frequent rebrands, ownership changes, and strategic alliances shaping its competitive identity.
Early Seasons and Development (2001-2007)
During its earliest years, the team focused primarily on the Cup Series and the Truck Series. The 2002 Cup season featured entries at Charlotte and a one-off run for Kevin Lepage in the No. 38 GEICO Ford. In 2003, the No. 37 Friendly’s Ice Cream Chevrolet attempted the full Cup schedule, although engine and funding issues limited the team to eighteen starts. A planned 2004 return was disrupted when primary sponsor Paramount Hospitality Management withdrew before Speedweeks, forcing Cope into a merger with Arnold Motorsports that briefly produced a No. 50 Dodge entry.
Through 2007, the team continued to operate with limited resources, occasionally fielding one-off entries in Cup, Truck, and ARCA. These early seasons established the team’s reputation as a hard-working underdog operation, capable of attempting high-profile races despite chronic budget constraints.
Breakthrough in the Nationwide and Truck Series (2008-2013)
The 2008 season marked the team’s formal entry into the Nationwide Series, debuting at Kentucky under the Derrike Cope Inc. banner with the No. 73 Dodge. Drivers such as Larry Gunselman, Kertus Davis, and Kevin Lepage piloted the entry, while the team also expanded into ARCA with Amber Cope’s No. 70 Dodge debut at Kentucky. The organization rebranded as Stratus Racing Group in late 2009 after partnering with Dale Clemons, expanding into Cup, Nationwide, Truck, and ARCA competition with sponsorship from Connectyx Technologies Holdings Group.
From 2010 to 2013, the team maintained a multi-series presence, fielding entries in the Truck Series for drivers such as Larry Foyt and Jennifer Jo Cobb. By 2014, following the acquisition of ML Motorsports’ assets, the team returned to a full-time Nationwide Series effort with the No. 70 Chevrolet Camaro, anchored by sponsorship from Charlies Soap and Youtheory. Despite consistent participation, the team recorded zero victories, poles, or championships across this era.
Modern Program and Current Direction (2014-Present)
Following a 2017 closure, Cope Family Racing was revived in January 2025 with a renewed Nationwide Series effort. The re-launched team announced Leland Honeyman and Thomas Annunziata as drivers of the No. 70 Chevrolet, forming a technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing and ECR Engines. In 2026, the organization entered a co-owning partnership with Stanton Barrett Motorsports, renumbering the No. 70 entry to No. 30 and rebranding the joint effort as Barrett-Cope Racing. Argentinian driver Baltazar Leguizamón was announced as the team’s first confirmed driver for 2026, sharing the seat with other drivers yet to be determined.
The modern program emphasizes Chevrolet-powered Camaro SS entries, multi-driver scheduling, and a renewed focus on lower-cost, alliance-driven competition. The team continues to operate from its Mooresville, North Carolina base, maintaining its long-standing presence in the NASCAR garage.
Philosophy and Competitive Strengths
Cope Family Racing’s identity centers on persistence, adaptability, and a willingness to develop emerging talent. The team frequently partners with smaller operations to share resources, allowing it to field competitive entries despite operating with limited budgets. Its strength lies in technical alliances, such as its 2025 partnership with Richard Childress Racing, and in providing seat time for drivers seeking to build NASCAR experience.
Key Milestones and Major Moments
Key moments in the team’s history include its 2001 Truck Series debut at Texas, its first Cup race at Charlotte in 2002, the formation of Stratus Racing Group in 2009, the 2014 acquisition of ML Motorsports assets, the 2025 re-launch as Cope Family Racing, and the 2026 merger announcement with Stanton Barrett Motorsports that created Barrett-Cope Racing.
Cope Family Racing Achievements and Results
Across its 214 combined starts in the Cup, O’Reilly Auto Parts (formerly Xfinity/Nationwide), Truck, and ARCA series, Cope Family Racing has recorded zero race victories, zero pole positions, and zero drivers’ championships. Despite this statistical reality, the team has maintained continuous NASCAR participation for more than two decades, fielding entries across all major touring divisions.
O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Achievements
In the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (formerly the Nationwide and Xfinity Series), the team has made 165 starts, including its 2008 debut at Kentucky. Notable results include multiple top-fifteen runs, a 13th-place finish at the 2014 Firecracker 300 at Daytona, and a series of part-time campaigns under various team names. The 2025 revival under the Cope Family Racing banner marked a return to full-time competition.
Conference Achievements
Conference-level results are not separately tracked for this team. No conference championships or titles have been recorded.
Divisional Achievements
Divisional results are not separately tracked for this team. No divisional championships or titles have been recorded.
Series Achievements
Across the Sprint Cup Series, the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, the Camping World Truck Series, and the ARCA Racing Series, the team has combined for 214 starts, 0 wins, 0 poles, and 0 championships. The team has completed 22 Cup starts, 165 O’Reilly Auto Parts starts, 19 Truck starts, and 8 ARCA starts.
