WARNING: Gentlemen Only... Derrike Cope's Twin Nieces Discuss Racing, Review Racing Movies (Legend?) and Provide Dessert (Cheesecake) in the Chicago Paper

Warning ladies.... cheesecake ahead...

Never in my wildest dreams did I expect the 2011 Pulitzer Prize winning Chicago Sun-Times to have such an "interesting" stock car racing feature, with a big pictorial spread and everything leading into the Chicagoland race weekend, what with the Bears on tv and so many other things happening in the Chicago sports world. But I have underestimated how willing the media in the home of Al Capone and Joliet Jake is to provide its readership with the latest NASCAR news of importance.

And they didn't pick any of the "Chase 12" to feature, either. Nope, we don't get to see Jeff Gordon's legs or Jimmie Johnson's chest or anything like that. Thanks to a greatPR coup, we get to see this trend setting, highly respected, read around the world publication do a big puff piece on 1990 Daytona 500 winner Derrike Cope's twin nieces.The picture spread is better than anything you ever saw in Racing Pictorial . Bet Uncle Derrike has his hands full as chaperone. I know you are awaiting Amber and Angela - the Cope Twins' thoughts on racing, racing movies (Legend) and their picture spread, which I'll save to last so you can get the serious reading out of the way first. I will anxiously await Legend's take on the Racing Movie Review portion of the article! One of the " Rules of Engagement" for reading this article from today's Chicago Sun-Times is that YOU MUST NOT SCROLL DOWN TO THE PICTURES OF THE TWINS IN BIKINIS BEFORE READING THE ARTICLE . Enjoy.

Hot Corner: Twins Angela and Amber Cope talk racing

BY DAN CAHILL dcahill@suntimes.com September 14, 2011 10:10PM

Twins Angela and Amber Cope, bring their driving skills to Chicagoland Speedway this weekend, vying for a spot in the Nationwide Series Dollar General 300 at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. If the speedy blondes qualify, theyll be racing alongside their uncle and Daytona 500 champion Derrike Cope. Practice and qualifying are Friday at the Speedway, culminating with the Sprint Cup Series Geico 400 at 1 p.m. Sunday.


Dan Cahill caught up with the Cope sisters which isnt easy:


DC: Whos the better driver?

Angela: It depends, I am the one that always wins so I am not sure how to answer.

Amber: I am confused. Every time I ever checked, I am the one that always got the W.


DC: Ever drive those Barbie Jeeps, or was it straight to go-karts?

Angela: I drove that Barbie Jeep, and we had to drive it like Fred Flintstones [car] because our high heels kept getting caught in the side wall cracks.

Amber: You know, I had a [Scooby Doo] Dream Machine so I kept on trading paint with that pink car.


DC: Car of choice on the road?

Angela: Anything with a top that goes down.

Amber: Big rims, horsepower, and maybe a Hemisomething that announces my presence with authority.


DC: Cars or Talledega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby?

Angela: I dont know about those two movies, but the scene where Cole Trickle is putting the Sweet-N-Low on Nicole Kidmans belly in Days of Thunder made me want to put Kyle Busch into the wall.

Amber: Screw those two movies. Herbie, Fully Loaded has my pick.


DC: Ever have another driver try to pick you up during a yellow flag?

Angela: If the middle finger counts.

Amber: I dont know that any of them can see over their steering wheel.


DC: Seriously, why cant female NASCAR drivers be better than male counterparts?

Angela: Amber and I have been kicking these little boys booties our whole careers. We just got up to NASCAR. I am sure they cry in their 20s as well.

Amber: Last time I checked my last race, there was a bunch of boys behind me.


DC: And, finally, the question every guy in every bar wants to ask you: 10-and-2 or 9-and-3?

Amber and Angela: 12 and 6one in the jaw, and one in the junk.

BELOW: Picture Spread from the Chicago Sun-Times of Amber & Angela Cope just as it appeared in the Sept. 15, 2011 edition (wonder if Danica will sue for equal time?) Gives a new meaning to " Getting in their Head !"

I knew I was reminded of a song:

Somebody did not heed the clearly posted warning!

They turned 28 in August. Appears Angela will drive and Amber spot at Chicago in the TriStar car owned by one time Derrike Cope west coast crew chief Dave Fuge and one time Derrike Cope Cup Engine builder Mark Smith.

Here's a serious Sports Illustrated article done in February on the twins:

Cope twins hope to mix fashion, fierce racing in NASCAR

By Amanda Younger, SI.com


Amber and Angela Cope certainly know how to make an impression around the garage.

NASCAR's first twins to compete in the same race in one of the top-3 series have carved out their own unique niche in the hard-driving, male-dominated sport. But don't let the blond tresses, made-up faces or designer shades fool you: These girls means business.

But these ladies aren't just looking to take the checkers on Saturday. They're hoping to branch out into a multi-industry brand. The two are in talks to star in their own reality show and currently run Pink Candy Boutique.

SI.com spoke with the Cope twins, nieces of Daytona 500 winner Derrike Cope, to discuss their debut last fall, their plans for this season and what it's like to be two of the only females on the track.

SI.com: How does it feel to be the first twins in NASCAR, competing in the same event, same series?

Angela: Up to Martinsville we had been under a lot of stress and we were all really excited. It's always been a dream of Amber's and mine to be out on the race track together with identical cars or trucks for the races. Obviously, our uncle Derrike has been behind us 110 percent as well as our mom and dad. To be at Martinsville, to have two trucks out there, we did well, for what we had, we did well.

We came out there and Amber was 26 and myself in the 30s. I can't say I'm pleased with those finishes, but in the perspective that we went out there, we used our heads, we got laps, we got seat time, we learned, we didn't make any mistakes pitting wise. We loved learning there so much, so it's a big accomplishment for us. And we've gotten a ton of publicity, which we didn't expect going into it. We just hoped that it was going to be huge because you've never seen two identical twins in NASCAR and I think NASCAR needs something like this. Fans need something. For now, everyone is struggling and if we can go out and do what we've been doing I think we really have a good shot at it.

SI.com: What was the biggest thing you took away from Martinsville?

Amber: I think us personally finishing the race and getting laps. Because we haven't raced in over a year. The last time we were in a car was in the ARCA when we did the Daytona test. Our number one goal was to finish the race.

SI.com: How did you feel as two of only a handful of female drivers? Did you feel any added pressure because you're both young as well?

Amber: I don't know, I think there definitely needs to be more women in this sport. At the same time, I think we're all wanting the same thing and you know how women are, they're catty. But Angela and I work together and Danica has done very well for herself, but it's not really about Danica, we're in it for ourselves and Angela and I are going to open our own doors and our own opportunities and it's about us now.

Angela: We're not worried about what other women are doing. We wish them the best. But we're all fighting for the same thing, so ultimately Amber and I want to be the best there's ever been and I feel our shot is coming and we will have a shot at it. Not just one driver, we're going to be two.

SI.com: Who were your racing icons, either active or retired drivers?

Amber: Growing up, I would say, when we were racing go-karts back in the day, it was always our uncle. We were always looking up to our uncle. I mean, he won the Daytona 500, he's a very well-respected man and we've always looked up to that. Being at the level, where we're entering now, we look up to all these guys, they've all done very well for themselves. It's a dream come true for us, but in that respect, we've got a job to do and we want to be just as good as them. Which if we can find the funding, which we need to do all that, we will make it. I truly believe that.

SI.com: How do you hope your presence in NASCAR will impact the sport, given the difficulties its faced these past few years?

Angela: We just want women, whether it's young or old, whatever the age is, we want people to look up to Amber and I. If we're out there to drive fast and look good, we just want women, young girls, to look up to Amber and I and be like wow, they can have dreams and achieve that, but it takes a lot of hard work and dedication

Amber: And I think another thing too is that there is going to be a driver that has it all. Whether it's looks, fashion, clothing, and Angela and I are into fashion, clothing, makeup, that's us. And I think that people don't take us seriously when it comes to that stuff, but we're hoping that we'll have a chance to prove them wrong because there are going to be drivers, and hopefully two of them, that will be able to prove that.

SI.com: That's probably one of the more striking things about the two of you. NASCAR hasn't really seen that many drivers who are fashion forward, conscious about their looks.

Amber: Exactly, and I think that's the problem we've been running into because people don't take us seriously. They want us to be models, but we're not. There're going to be drivers who have it all, and that's going to be us.

SI.com: Has anyone, either on the track or off, told you that your look might not be suited for NASCAR?

Angela: I'm sure that everyone has their own thoughts and perceptions about Amber and I. But ultimately being at Martinsville, we've proven ourselves to a lot of people and we have earned a lot of respect.

SI.com: Switching gears a bit, what is your dynamic on the track with each other? Any sibling rivalry when the engines start?

Amber: I think our dad and our mom have always told us that in racing we're a team and we work together and that's how its always been and I think that's how it's always going to be. We learn a lot from each other, whether it's one car having issues and the other car's not or we're having trouble, we talk about it and discuss it and we help each other out. We're a team and we're going to stick together.

SI.com: Given you grew up in a racing family, what is your fondest memory of racing?

Angela: We did a limited a schedule in the ARCA series, it was our first race of the year, and Amber and I had two cars up at Kentucky, and we were way off the pace and crashed, so I think we were 32nd and 36th or something, and Amber and I went out there and I qualified eighth and Amber qualified 15th. It was really an exciting moment to know that you had a decent car and to have two cars in the top-15 it was so exciting. I can't even describe to you the feeling of how proud we were and how we felt. Like we were really accomplishing something. At the time, ARCA was really big for us, so it was a dream come true. So it was an exciting time.

Amber: I think that when we were younger, the fact of knowing our uncle Derrike won the Daytona 500. We were racing go-karts then, and I think that really kind of motivated us. Yeah we were 10, 11 years old but we looked up to our uncle then and just listening to it on the radio when he won the Daytona 500. We had to listen to the radio because our TV went out and we heard him say, "Derrike Cope won the Daytona 500," and it was crazy.

Angela: It's funny, I remember that day like it was yesterday. We had matching sweatshirts that said "Our uncle won the Daytona 500," like two days later. We looked like a bunch of dorks, but it was OK.

SI.com: Stepping away from racing, what other interests do you have?

Angela: We're into fashion, I think that's where I see we're going. Between that and NASCAR, it's our online clothing boutique, those are the only things that really interest us and excite us. We love making people feel good about themselves.

Amber: I think also, Angela and I would love to have our own reality show. We have some interesting lives and I think any opportunities that way I think could be great


Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/racing/02/07/Angela.Amber.Cope/index.html#ixzz1Y3eHyf12

Many years ago, in 1970, in Wilson. NC, before I was married, I was taken out on the town by one of the Managers at the Wrangler Jeans plant that the women fondly called, "Sexy Daddy." He said he was going to give me one very important piece of advice:

"When we go in a bar, always remember G. U. E .," he said. "That stands for GO UGLY EARLY! " He reasoned it was always good practice to ingratiate yourself with all the women on the premises.