Michael Pope's Biography

After karts the next logical step for Michael was to graduate to Bandoleros.  He began racing in the Young Guns division in the spring of 2002.  In the very first race that he ran at Cordele Motor Speedway (GA), Michael was able to find his way into victory lane.  After becoming victorious so quickly, Michael shifted his focus to the larger Legends cars and traveled all across the Southeast racing in Legends events at a variety of tracks. 

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In 2003, it all began to come together for Michael Pope.   Michael won the Young Lions Georgia State Points Championship in Legends cars and gained even more experience from racing at tracks such as Atlanta Motor Speedway, Senoia Speedway and Cordele Motor Speedway.

2004 found Michael moving up yet again, to the Legends Semi-Pro Division.  His first win the series came at Lanier National Speedway (GA) on May 8th, 2004.  Once that first win was under his belt, Michael was on a roll as he went on to win 11 more features during the remainder of the 2004 season.  

The 2005 season was a turning point for Michael as he made the change from small cars to a larger full bodied stock car.  He began competing in the ultra-competitive Georgia Asphalt Series where he quickly found a home among some of the best southern Late Model drivers around.  He finished 11th in points in his rookie year, earning four top-10 finishes along the way despite not running the full schedule.  In addition to his finish in the point standings, 2005 also found Michael Pope in victory lane with his Pro Late Model when he won the weekly series event at Watermelon Capital Speedway (GA) in the spring of 2005.

Michael returned to the Georgia Asphalt Series for the 2006 season and found even more success.  The competitive series pulled in some of the highest car counts in the Southeast each week that they raced averaging 30+ cars, and Michael was able to bring home six top-10 finishes, including two top-five finishes when all was said and done.

2007 was a breakout season for Michael.  He earned his first-career GAS win, coming on August 18th at Peachstate Speedway in Jefferson, GA.  He finished the 2007 GAS season with 14 top-10 finishes in 16 races, earning him a third-place results in the GAS point standings. 

Michael also earned the VIPER Series Pro Late Model Championhip at South Alabama Speedway during the season.  He then capped off the year by finishing second in the annual Snowflake 100 during the Snowball Derby weekend at FIve Flags Speedway in Pensacola, FL.

Michael had a strong start to the 2008 season as he found himself the early season point leader in the nationally televised ASA Southeast Asphalt Late Model Tour.  Strong finishes continued all season as Pope drove both in the Pro Late Models as well as the Super Late Models.  His driving ability caught the eye of SPEED-TV Broadcaster Bob Dillner who was looking for a top notch driver for his BDI Racing Late Model program.

The 2009 season has big plans for Michael as a member of BDI Racing.  Michael looks to run selected Super and Pro Late Model events throughout the Southeast, including  PASS and CRA South events.  Other big Super Late Model events could be in the works as well.  Michael continues to strive for his goal of one day driving in the NASCAR ranks.

Michael Pope

Date of Birth: December 20, 1989

Residence: Dublin, Georgia

Height: 5'8''

Weight: 198 lbs.

Michael Pope started his racing career in 1997 in the go-kart ranks of Middle Georgia when he was only eight-years-old.  He raced at tracks all through out the Southeast including Center Raceway, Dexter Speedway and in Lanett, Alabama.   After recording numerous top-five and top-10 finishes, the time came for Michael to move up.