Team Arnold Motorsports Car/Make No. 37/Chevrolet Sponsor Arnold Development Companies & Friendly's Crew Chief Mike Hillman
STATS	2003	CAREER
Rank	46	15*
Wins	0	2
Top 5	0	6
Top 10	0	32
DNFs	12	139
Top Finish	29	1
*Indicates best career points finish

2003 recap
The good: After running a grand total of 11 races in the previous three seasons, Cope managed to put together enough sponsorship to attempt to qualify for 27 races in 2003. He ultimately made 18 starts, half of the full 36-race schedule. What's more, if the team can attract even more funding, he has the potential to run even more races in 2004.

The bad: While he qualified for 18 races, Cope managed to finish just one-third of those. And, even though he made the field in half of the season events, 14 of those starts were 41st to 43rd. His best qualifying effort was 23rd in the fall race at Atlanta.

Key stat: Cope suffered 12 DNFs in 2003, boosting his career Winston Cup DNF total to an almost incredulous 139 dating back to his first career Cup event in 1982.

2004 outlook
What needs to be done: The 1990 Daytona 500 winner has struggled since his last full season in 1997, primarily due to lack of sponsorship or the failure to attract a strong owner to drive for.

Key change: The biggest thing the team needs is major engine development. Five of his 12 DNFs in 2003 were due to engine failure. The team was supposed to do some increased offseason testing; hopefully the knowledge gained will not only lead to better results in 2004, but less trashed motors as well.

Guarantee: If Cope's team can obtain more funding, it will naturally make it more competitive. Cope is too talented a driver to be saddled driving for noncompetitive teams year after year. He's due for a big breakout; 2004 could be that year.

Prediction: Cope is a driver who desperately needs to gain momentum. Likewise, the same holds true for his team. If the No. 37 team can come away with a strong finish early in 2004, it could go a long way toward making for a much more successful campaign than might be expected.

Did you know: Cope has not had a top-10 finish since 1997, which also was his highest-finishing campaign (27th) since his career high of 15th-place two years earlier in 1995.

Your take
Will Cope finally be able to gain more sponsorship to help give him more quality -- and more importantly, better contending -- equipment in 2004? Or, given how he has struggled for the last seven seasons, is it time Cope, who is now 45, retires from Cup racing? Share your thoughts on Cope's prospects in 2004.

Update: Cope will team with Don Arnold for the 2004 Cup season.