Mike Cope disqualified from Irwindale event

Cope disqualified after fifth-place finish in ASA TireRack.com 300.

Pendleton, IN (April 10, 2002) - American Speed Association Officials late Sunday afternoon disqualified the #25 car, driven by Mike Cope (Pinellas Park, Fla.), for failure to pass post-race inspection following the ASA Racing Series TireRack.com 300 presented by BFGoodrich Tires at Irwindale Speedway outside Los Angeles.

Series Officials indicated that the disqualification resulted from "visual evidence" that the car's sealed engine had been altered. ASA mandates the use of a spec engine for all competitors, and it maintains a "zero-tolerance" policy regarding any tampering or changes to the sealed powerplant.

The #25 team, which unofficially finished fifth in the ASA Racing Series event, forfeits all owner and driver points and prize money from the event as a result of the disqualification, plus an additional 100-point penalty, pursuant to the ASA Racing 2002 Official Rulebook.

Following the disqualification, Cope refused to allow Series Officials to confiscate the engine, which may lead to further penalties from the Pendleton, IN-based sanctioning body.

-asa-