Amber Nicole Cope (born August 18, 1983) is an American professionalstock car racing driver. She is known for makingNASCAR history with her sisterAngela Cope-Ruch, becoming the first twins to compete in one of its top three series. They made their NASCAR debut in the Camping World Truck Series inMartinsville, Virginia on October 23, 2010. Amber finished 26th and Angela finished 30th.

Cope and her sister began racing in Go-Karts at the age of nine. The sisters quickly gained attention by winning poles and races year after year. By age 15, they stepped up to late-model race cars—even before they had driver's licenses.^[1]

In 1995, Cope finished third in the Tri-cities Gold Cup "Yamaha Class". By 1998, both sisters were PSGKA Gold Cup winners in the "Junior Piston Port".

Cope and her sister split seat time in 2006 at the ARCA Re/Max Series at Berlin, Gateway, Chicagoland, Milwaukee Mile, and Toledo, Ohio. By 2008, the twins qualified for the ARCA Re/Max Series at Kentucky Speedway, with positions 8 and 15.

On July 14, 2012, Cope was involved in an incident withKevin Harvick during the final stages of aNationwide Series race at New Hampshire when it appeared as though she forced Harvick down the racetrack, which in turn slowed his momentum and enabledBrad Keselowski to win.^[2]

She is the niece of1990 Daytona 500 winnerDerrike Cope.

Residents ofCornelius, North Carolina, Amber and Angela Cope became the third generation of Copes to enter into the world of racing, when, at nine, the girls' parents gave them a go-kart for Christmas. Once they began competing locally, the girls made a name for themselves and became the most accomplished go-kart racers in the Greater Puget Sound region.

At 15, they progressed to late model race cars even before they had their license to drive. In 2000, a very short time after their debut in late model stock cars they acquired national attention when they were featured onThe TODAY Show withBryant Gumbel.

In 2006, the twins split seat time at the Automobile Racing Club of America's (ARCA) Re/Max Series at Berlin, Gateway, Chicagoland, Milwaukee and Toledo, Ohio. In 2008, they qualified for the ARCA Re/Max Series at Kentucky Speedway with positions 8 and 15.

On October 23, 2010, Amber and Angela Cope became the first twins to compete in the same NASCAR national touring series event,^[3] competing together in theKroger 200 atMartinsville Speedway in theCamping World Truck Series.^[4]

Amber Cope made one start in theNationwide Series in 2011. In 2012, she shared the No. 24SR2 Motorsports Toyota in theNationwide Series withAngela Cope andBenny Gordon on a part-time schedule.^[5] In her only Nationwide Series start of the season in the F.W. Webb 200 atNew Hampshire Motor Speedway, she became the center of controversy after holding up leaderKevin Harvick late in the race. Harvick afterwards stated that Cope "is trying to be Danica Patrick...and [should] find a new job".^[6]

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time.Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time.Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

^* Season still in progress
¹ Ineligible for series points

• Official website
• Amber Cope driver statistics at Racing-Reference

• Living people
• 1983 births
• Sportspeople from Puyallup, Washington
• Racing drivers from Washington (state)
• NASCAR drivers
• ARCA Menards Series drivers
• American twins
• Cope family
• American female racing drivers
• People from Cornelius, North Carolina
• Sportspeople from Mecklenburg County, North Carolina

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