From Canandaigua To NASCAR: Copp Forms New Team

Story By: COPP MOTORSPORTS – February 22, 2017 – MOORESVILLE, NC – A new race team is entering the national touring ranks of NASCAR in 2017. Copp Motorsports is going to field the No. 83 Chevrolet in the Camping World Truck Series.

The team is going to run out of a race shop at the drag strip in Mooresville. The assets were acquired from the former Contreras Motorsports team that raced the No. 71 truck in 2016. The team plans to run the entire Camping World Truck Season.

DJ Copp is the owner of the new team. Copp is a lifelong racer who has climbed the ladder of NASCAR from a local dirt street stock racer to a tire changer at the highest levels. He then ran a pit school and was a fixture on ESPN’s NASCAR broadcasts.

Copp was a partner in the No. 71 team last season and is now assuming full ownership of the race team. Copp credits his good friends Mike Vasquez, Carlos and Enrique Contreras with affording him the opportunity to be a national touring series team owner.

Copp is a third generation racer who cut his racing teeth at Canandaigua Motorsports Park in northern New York. His family ran the No. 83 for years which is why the new entry will change from No. 71.

After moving to North Carolina Copp worked in construction to try and raise funds to chase his racing dream. He ended up at the Richard Petty Driving Experience and showed talent at changing tires. After working up through the Pro Cup and ARCA ranks he moved into the Truck Series with Ted Musgrave.

His career led to changing tires at the Cup level for Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle, Matt Kenseth and Dale Earnhardt Jr. He ended his tire changing career with Danica Patrick in her inaugural season in the XFINITY Series. Copp then opened a pit school called Over The Wall, which bore the same name as his televsion segments for ESPN.