Cope secures partial sponsorship for 2003

WILBRAHAM, Mass. -- Former Daytona 500 winner Derrike Cope has secured sponsorship from Friendly Ice Cream Corporation for a partial NASCAR Winston Cup Series schedule in 2003.

Friendly's first race backing Cope's No. 37 Quest Motor Racing Chevrolet will be the Feb. 16 Daytona 500. The team tested last week and as of Wednesday was 51st of 53 teams that hit the track.

Friendly's was introduced to Winston Cup racing last fall at New Hampshire International Speedway -- the closest track to the company's corporate base in Western Massachusetts.

Driver Kevin Lepage started 26th and finished 40th when the engine in his No. 37 Quest Ford failed after 84 laps in the New Hampshire 300.

"A family sport needs family-type sponsors, and Friendly's certainly is that," Cope said. "That is good for all of us in NASCAR racing. Having a company like Friendly's join us means a lot to me and to everyone at Quest Motor Racing."

"NASCAR and Friendly's demographics are similar, (so) becoming a sponsor and getting involved with NASCAR is a great fit for Friendly's," Friendly's senior director, marketing Peter E. Bell said. "This sponsorship fulfills a marketing objective for Friendly's of increasing brand awareness (and) we believe Friendly's and Quest Motor Racing make a formidable team."

The team's schedule after Daytona has yet to be determined.