Mike Cope Racing fined, placed on probation

Pendleton, Ind. (April 16) -- The ASA Competition Committee has ruled the Mike Cope Racing Team will be fined $5,000 and placed on probation for the remainder of the 2002 ASA Racing Series season. The ruling came in a letter dated April 12, 2002 and is in regard to sanctions against Mike Cope Racing as a result of non-compliance with post-race inspection procedures specific to the April 7 ASA Racing Series "TireRack.com 300" event at Irwindale Speedway in Irwindale, CA.

In addition, the CAR OWNER LICENSE for the number 25 Mike Cope Racing Team has been suspended until the fine is paid in full. Mike Cope Racing was afforded the right to appeal the fine and suspension to the ASA Racing Series Owner-Driver Committee and did so prior to the April 13 Textilease 300 at Big Daddy's South Boston Speedway. The ASA Owner-Driver Committee denied Cope's appeal.

ASA Officials initially disqualified the Mike Cope Racing number 25 car for failure to pass post-race inspection following the TireRack.com 300. ASA said at the time that the disqualification resulted from "visual evidence" that the car's sealed engine had been altered. There is a "zero-tolerance" policy regarding any tampering or changes to the sealed powerplants.

The number 25 team, which unofficially finished fifth in Irwindale, forfeited all owner and driver points and prize money from the event as a result of the disqualification.

Following the disqualification, Cope refused to allow series officials to confiscate the engine as required by series' rules, which lead to the subsequent fine, probation, appeal and eventual denial of the appeal.

The Mike Cope Racing number 25 car did not participate in the April 13th event at Big Daddy's South Boston Speedway. It is unclear at this time as to the team's future plans.

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