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Biography
Full Name: Anthony Dean Roper
Birth date: December 23, 1964
Birthplace: Springfield, Missouri
Father: Dean Roper
Mother: Shirley Medley
Hometown: Fair Grove, Missouri
Residence: Concord, North Carolina
Height / Weight: 5'10" / 140 lbs.
Wife: Michele
Children: None
Tony Roper, a second-generation driver, was the son of southwest Missouri racing legend Dean Roper. Roper started driving in 1986. For the next six years he learned his craft in IMCA Modifieds and late models on Midwest dirt and asphalt tracks. He scored numerous wins in both IMCA and late models on the asphalt tracks. In 1992 Tony moved to the ASA circuit. In 1992, he was the runner up finisher in the American Speed Association's rookie-of-the-year race.
At the end of the 1996 Roper joined forces with Brevak Racing to drive the team's primary entry on the NCTS circuit.
Tony drove for two teams in 1998 and completed his second full season 16th in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series point standings & Roper began the campaign in Shelly Brevak's Concor Tool & Machine Ford, then moved to the Gloy-Rahal Ford following the early-June race at Texas Motor Speedway & Roper's best career finish was recorded in the latter ride, a second-place at Indianapolis Raceway Park & that finish remains his only career top-five.
In early 1999, he signed with the IWX Motor Freight Xpress Motorsports Pontiac Team for a partial schedule in the NASCAR Busch Series, Grand National Division. He made his BGN debut at Darlington on March 20, 1999. In April he was selected to drive full-time for the remainder of the year. He drove for Xpress through August before leaving the team to explore other options.
In late 1999 he signed a two year contract with Washington Erving Motorsports to pilot the #50 Dr Pepper Chevrolet Monte Carlo. The team struggled early in 2000 and was finally forced out of business because of financial problems.
Late in 2000, he agreed to drive for the #26 Mittler Brothers Ford in the Craftsman Truck Series. On October 13, 2000 he was critically injured in a wreck at Texas Motor Speedway. He died the next day.
Tony Roper Scholarship Fund
c/o The Bank of Bolivar
P.O. Box 108
Fair Grove, MO 65648
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Career Highlights
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series - finished 2nd at Indianapolis Raceway Park in 1998, with 6 top ten finishes and 14 top 15 finishes.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series - Competed in every race in 1997 and 1998 finishing 18th and 16th respectively in the championship points.
American Speed Association - 1996 drove the John Child's Chevrolet to 10th in the points standings. Recorded 6 top ten finishes, including a career best third at Jennerstown Speedway. Also won three "Best Move of the Race" awards and two "Hard Charger" awards.
American Speed Association - recorded several top 10 finishes again driving the John Child's owned Monte Carlo. Competed in first two NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races for Mike Mittler at Milwaukee and Martinsville.
American Speed Association - 1992 ran for Rookie of the Year title with 3 top 10 finishes and finishing 8th in the All Pro World Cup 400 at Odessa, Missouri.
In 1991 veteran car owner John Childs, who fielded cars for Rusty Wallace and Kenny Wallace in the early parts of their careers, hired Tony to run full time on the ASA. Tony would work on the cars, preparing them for competition with volunteer help for the next five years. Gaining experience with the chassis and setups and driving on short tracks across the country.
In 1990, won 10 of 20 races in the Modified category on Missouri short tracks. Also won the Fall Shootout and Modified Invitational at Lebanon I-44 Speedway. Finished 5th in the World Cup 400 in Odessa, Missouri at I-70 Speedway.
1989 - Claimed Late Model "Rookie of the Year" title at Lebanon and Bolivar, Missouri Speedways. Also competed in the modified division at these tracks, claiming several victories.
1988 - Dirt was the way. Won the Fall Shootout at Lebanon I-44 Speedway and finished fourth in the IMCA Super Nationals in Boone, Iowa. Was employed at Dirt Work Chassis Company working with building, designing, and setting up race car chassis.
Earned the IMCA National "Rookie of the Year" awards while racing dirt tracks at Lebanon and Bolivar, Missouri in 1988.
Year Division Starts Wins Top 5 Top 10 Points Position Money
various ASA 89 0 5 17 N/A unknown
1995 Trucks 3 0 0 0 60 3,900
1996 Trucks 0 0 0 0 0 0
1997 Trucks 26 0 0 2 18 204,545
1998 Trucks 27 0 1 6 16 216,605
1999 Busch 16 0 0 3 41 172,085
1999 Trucks 1 0 0 0 87 5,835
2000 Busch 3 0 0 0 TBD 29,540
2000 Trucks 4 0 0 0 TBD 25,525
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