Truck Series is about to get a double injection of style

When cosmetologists graduate from beauty school, naturally they go to the salon for employment. But that's not always the case. According to a particular pair I spoke with, they're going truck racing instead.

Angela and Amber Cope, twin sisters and the nieces of 1990 Daytona 500 winner Derrike Cope, are on a mission to show NASCAR that you can beat and bang on the race track and look hot at the same time.

How so?

Think Christina Aguilera before motherhood and then put her in a fire suit. You now have an idea of what the Cope twins, who started racing go-karts at age 9 across the Northwest, look like.

Their stock-car racing began nearly five years ago when the sisters left Puyallup, Wash., and moved cross-country to Mooresville, N.C., upon their uncle's request. He knew they had an interest and wanted to turn them into hard-core racers. But first he would have to make some concessions about their glitzy exteriors and learn how to be a surrogate father.

"I can put up with the platinum hair and makeup, but I told them we can't do heels or holes in the jeans at the track," said Derrike Cope, who divorced years ago and never had children of his own. "Angela and Amber -- any female racer for that matter -- they come with a unique set of challenges but the girls know I have a strong work ethic and we've become close over the years."

A veteran of 409 Cup Series starts, Cope recently launched Stratus Racing Group Inc. and will compete in the Nationwide and Truck series. Cope will drive in both series while the twins are slated to drive in a limited number of Truck races.

And there's only so much funding to go around, therefore, the twins will be forced to share the ride. Fortunate for them, sharing is not a new concept. Outside of their go-kart days, the twins have split seat time in every ride they've ever campaigned -- be it super late models or ARCA cars. (Continued)