2006-2012
In 2006, Cope intended to run a full schedule for McGlynn with #74 car, but soon cut back to part-time. His best finish was at Michigan International Speedway, where he finished 34th. In the Busch Series, his best finish in the 49 car was 33rd at Dover International Speedway, and his best start was 33rd at Bristol Motor Speedway. He intended to run more races with McGlynn in 2007, but the team suspended operations after only attempting one race. He spent the season driving part time schedules for Robinson and Xpress Motorsports.
In 2008, he signed to drive for Means Racing in the Nationwide Series, but switched midseason to drive for James Finch and Jay Robinson Racing. Later in the season, Cope began entering his own trucks and cars in the Craftsman Truck Series and Nationwide Series. In the truck series he fielded the #73 and #74 trucks with Nick Turner and Jennifer Jo Cobb being the primary drivers, while in the Nationwide Series he fielded the #73 and #78 cars with Kevin Lepage driving the #73 and others racing the #78.
As the 2009 season approached, Cope announced he would be involved on all three of NASCAR's circuits, as he would pilot the #75 Cope/Keller Racing Dodge in the Sprint Cup series with BluFrog Energy Drink coming on board as a primary sponsor during Daytona Speedweeks. He began the season as the driver of the #41 Metal Jeans Chevrolet Impala for Rick Ware Racing in the Nationwide Series, but was released after three races, and moved to his own team. He has also fielded trucks part-time for himself, Larry Foyt, and Jennifer Jo Cobb. Derrike has fielded the #78 car for one race in nationwide. He has fielded the #73 for most of the races.
In 2009, Cope attempted six races with his self-owned team; he failed to qualify for any of them. At the October Martinsville race, Cope successfully attempted his first Sprint Cup race since 2006 while driving for Larry Gunselman.
In 2010, Derrike Cope teamed up with Dale Clemons as co-owners of new racing venture Stratus Racing Group. The team ran a full schedule with Derrike as driver in both the Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series. It also ran a limited schedule in the ARCA Remax Series, fielding a car for Derrike's twin nieces Amber Cope and Angela Cope, who split the ride.
Derrike Cope returned to Jay Robinson Inc. for 2011 in the #28 Chevrolet. For the 2011 Daytona 500, Derrike Cope attempted to qualify the #64 Toyota for Larry Gunselman with sponsorship from Sta-Bil. Cope finished 13th in the Budweiser Shootout driving for Gunselman. Cope has decided to field his cup car in select races with manufactering backing from Chevrolet instead of Dodge. In the 2011 Sprint Showdown, Cope was involved in a crash with Landon Cassill, where he T-boned Cassil's car when he spun out. Neither driver was injured. Cope finished 20th in Nationwide Series standings, competing in all but one event.
Cope will return to the Nationwide Series in 2012, competing in the No. 73 Chevrolet for CFK Motorsports.
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