Dirt
TRIBUTE : BLAKE COPSON
he added two more Outlaw Street Car Shootout wins , along with Outlaw 10.5 victories at Michigan ’ s Milan Dragway , the Shakedown Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park , and the World Street Nationals at Orlando Speed World Dragway . He also became the first and only Outlaw 10.5 driver to dip into the 3.60s with a 3.694 at 210.60 .
For Joel Hull , who was one of Blake ’ s best friends as well as his car chief , the Shakedown Nationals win is one of his favorite memories of racing with Blake . The team went into the race with four consecutive wins behind them . Calling on the reaction time skills he acquired through a childhood of slot car racing , Blake used holeshot advantages to win the semifinal and final rounds , beating Mark Benston Jr .’ s 3.74 with a 3.76 in the final .
“ We got down to the top end and we were like
‘ Blake , you killed it . You did this .’ He looked us all in the face and he said , ‘ No , I didn ’ t do this . We did this ,’” Hull says . “ He said , ‘ I wouldn ’ t be able to cut a light if I didn ’ t know Josh was on the keyboard , my dad was right there by his side , or if you weren ’ t on the car . I wouldn ’ t have been comfortable enough to cut lights like can .’ It was never a ‘ he did it ’ or an ‘ I did it .’ It was ‘ we .’ We did everything as a family together .”
Hull met Copson when they were young teenagers and they became fast friends , often wrenching on and riding dirt bikes together . Copson knew Hull was mechanically inclined , so he was the first guy he called when putting together a small crew for the Corvette . With Ledford calling the shots , it was Joe , Blake and Hull forming a tightknit crew that worked well together .
“ When we were at the track , it was never work ,” Hull , 25 , says . “ We always had smiles and we were having fun . It was awesome . We got to make memories that will last forever . We were comfortable together . It was always fun . There was never a stressful moment with those guys .”
Ledford , who ’ s tuned for a number of highprofile clients around the world in small-tire and Pro Mod classes , similarly felt a strong bond with the Copson family . Blake would spend time at Ledford ’ s house and go out on his boat with him between races .
“ His family and my family are family ,” Ledford says . “ He called me Dad . Joel calls me Dad . I ’ ve never , ever been so close with a client . His dad calls me every couple days . His mom talks to my wife . We were more than just a team , we were all family .”
The family atmosphere extended beyond Copson ’ s crew . Blake was known for offering spare parts and assistance to fellow racers .
“ If somebody needed help , he would come back to the trailer and ask myself or his dad , ‘ So and
24 | Drag Illustrated | DragIllustrated . com Issue 166