Ken Schrader Racing
Encyclopedia
Ken Schrader Racing is a NASCAR
team and licensing agent for racer Ken Schrader
, who owns and drives for the team. It currently competes in the NASCAR Nationwide, Craftsman Truck Series
, and NASCAR Camping World West Series.
at North Carolina Speedway
. Qualifying 21st, he finished 5th, one lap down. He switched to the #52 and Chevrolets in 1988 and picked up sponsorship from Exxon
. Running ten races, he had two top-fives and finished 32nd in points. In 1989, he made twelve races and picked up his first win in the Busch Series at Dover
, and ran with Kodiak
sponsorship in 1990. During the 1990 season, his team ran its first Winston Cup race when Brian Ross drove the #58 Pontiac
at Pocono Raceway
, finishing 27th after suffering an engine failure. Schrader would change his number to 15 in 1991, and had four top-five finishes.
AC Delco became the new team sponsor in 1992, and Schrader finished 29th in points, a career-best for him in the Busch Series. He switched back to the #52 in 1993, winning the pole at the season opening race, but had three top-tens, his lowest total since 1990. In 1994, he won his most recent race at Talladega Superspeedway
, and had two other top-fives. After the 1995 season, the team retired from the Busch Series.
with AC Delco sponsorship, he made seven starts and won at Saugus Speedway
. He ran three races in his truck in 1996, sharing the ride with Tobey Butler
, who won the pole at Evergreen Speedway
. Schrader Racing also ran a pair of Cup races, with Jack Sprague
driving the #52 Pedigree Petfoods
Pontiac Grand Prix
, his best finish being 23rd at Phoenix.
Butler was hired as the team's full-time driver in 1997, with Purolator
becoming the team's new sponsor. After eleven races, he was replaced by Mike Wallace
, who had a second place finish at California Speedway
. Schrader himself ran a second entry, the #53 Penda Truck Accessories Chevy, at Richmond International Raceway
, finishing sixth. Wallace drove exclusively for Schrader in 1998, posting eleven top-tens. He would leave for Ultra Motorsports
at the end of the season, and Purolator ended its sponsorship in NASCAR.
Rookie Scott Hansen was tabbed as the new driver of the 52, and Oakwood Homes became the team's new sponsor. Hansen qualified for every race and had three top-tens when Schrader replaced him in the final race of the year, where he crashed out. Hansen still finished 2nd in the NASCAR Rookie of the Year
standings and eighteenth in points. The 52 team went back to part-time racing after picking up Federated Auto Parts sponsorship in 2000, with Schrader sharing the ride with Lyndon Amick
, who had a second place run at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Schrader and Amick continued to run part-time in 2001, with Schrader himself posting a second place finish at Darlington Raceway
. During 2001 & 2002, KSR ran in the Busch Series again in the #07 Chevy with Schrader attempting a total of three races, and Michael Vergers failing to qualify in his attempt. In 2002, Wallace returned to the team as co-driver, replacing Amick. The two would combine for twelve starts and five top-ten finishes. Schrader ran eleven races in 2003, and Wallace four, with four top-tens. Wallace began the 2004 season with a third place finish, before Schrader took over for the rest of the runs for the years. He had four top-tens and a pole at Bristol Motor Speedway
. He made nine more starts in 2005, but had only one top-ten finish.
, when Schrader returned with Federated Auto Parts sponsoring his Toyota Tundra
. In his first race back, he started 28th and finished 4th.
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
team and licensing agent for racer Ken Schrader
Ken Schrader
Kenneth Schrader is a second-generation race car driver. He currently races on local dirt and asphalt tracks around the country while driving part-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the ARCA Racing Series for his own Ken Schrader Racing. He also runs part time in the NASCAR Camping...
, who owns and drives for the team. It currently competes in the NASCAR Nationwide, Craftsman Truck Series
Craftsman Truck Series
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is a pickup truck racing series owned and operated by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing...
, and NASCAR Camping World West Series.
Beginnings
Schrader began fielding his own team in 1987 in the then-Busch Series, driving the #45 Red Baron Pizza Ford ThunderbirdFord Thunderbird
The Thunderbird , is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United States over eleven model generations from 1955 through 2005...
at North Carolina Speedway
North Carolina Speedway
Rockingham Speedway, formerly North Carolina Motor Speedway and later North Carolina Speedway is a racetrack located near Rockingham, North Carolina...
. Qualifying 21st, he finished 5th, one lap down. He switched to the #52 and Chevrolets in 1988 and picked up sponsorship from Exxon
Exxon
Exxon is a chain of gas stations as well as a brand of motor fuel and related products by ExxonMobil. From 1972 to 1999, Exxon was the corporate name of the company previously known as Standard Oil Company of New Jersey or Jersey Standard....
. Running ten races, he had two top-fives and finished 32nd in points. In 1989, he made twelve races and picked up his first win in the Busch Series at Dover
Dover International Speedway
Dover International Speedway is a NASCAR-sanctioned race track located in Dover, Delaware, owned by, and serving as the corporate headquarters of, Dover Motorsports, Inc. It is co-located with a harness racing track, Dover Downs, and shares the complex with Dover Downs Hotel & Casino...
, and ran with Kodiak
Kodiak tobacco
Kodiak is a brand of dipping tobacco manufactured by American Snuff Company, a U.S. smokeless tobacco manufacturer that also produces the Grizzly tobacco and Levi Garrett brands...
sponsorship in 1990. During the 1990 season, his team ran its first Winston Cup race when Brian Ross drove the #58 Pontiac
Pontiac
Pontiac was an automobile brand that was established in 1926 as a companion make for General Motors' Oakland. Quickly overtaking its parent in popularity, it supplanted the Oakland brand entirely by 1933 and, for most of its life, became a companion make for Chevrolet. Pontiac was sold in the...
at Pocono Raceway
Pocono Raceway
Pocono Raceway also known as the Tricky Triangle, is a superspeedway located in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania at Long Pond...
, finishing 27th after suffering an engine failure. Schrader would change his number to 15 in 1991, and had four top-five finishes.
AC Delco became the new team sponsor in 1992, and Schrader finished 29th in points, a career-best for him in the Busch Series. He switched back to the #52 in 1993, winning the pole at the season opening race, but had three top-tens, his lowest total since 1990. In 1994, he won his most recent race at Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama, United States. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base just outside the small city of Lincoln. It was constructed by International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France Family, in...
, and had two other top-fives. After the 1995 season, the team retired from the Busch Series.
Craftsman Truck Series
Schrader began fielding trucks during the series' inaugural season in 1995. Driving the #52 Chevrolet SilveradoChevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado , is the latest line of full-size pickup trucks from General Motors.-History:...
with AC Delco sponsorship, he made seven starts and won at Saugus Speedway
Saugus Speedway
Saugus Speedway is a 1/3 mile racetrack in Saugus, California on a site. The track hosted one NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event in 1995, which was won by Ken Schrader...
. He ran three races in his truck in 1996, sharing the ride with Tobey Butler
Tobey Butler
Tobey Butler is a former NASCAR driver. He finished in the top-10 in points in the inaugural year of the Craftsman Truck Series and then did a limited schedule....
, who won the pole at Evergreen Speedway
Evergreen Speedway
Evergreen Speedway is an automobile racetrack located within the confines of the Evergreen State Fairgrounds in Monroe, Washington. The stadium can accommodate up to 7500 spectators in the covered grandstand and an additional 7500 in the uncovered modular grandstands...
. Schrader Racing also ran a pair of Cup races, with Jack Sprague
Jack Sprague
Jack Sprague is a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver. He is currently a free agent. Sprague has finished in the top-ten in the points standings almost every year he has raced in the trucks, and won three championships in 1997, 1999, and 2001 while driving for Hendrick Motorsports.-...
driving the #52 Pedigree Petfoods
Pedigree Petfoods
Pedigree Petfoods is a subsidiary of the american group Mars, Incorporated specializing in pet food, with factories in Great Britain at Melton Mowbray, Peterborough and Birstall, Leeds; and offices at Waltham-on-the-Wolds.-Manchester:...
Pontiac Grand Prix
Pontiac Grand Prix
Picking up where the Pontiac Ventura model left off, the Grand Prix first appeared in the Pontiac line for 1962. It was essentially a standard Pontiac Catalina coupe with minimal outside chrome trim and a sportier interior...
, his best finish being 23rd at Phoenix.
Butler was hired as the team's full-time driver in 1997, with Purolator
Purolator
Purolator may refer to:* Purolator Courier, a Canadian courier company* Purolator Filters, a joint venture of Bosch and Mann-Hummel, which distributes the Purolator brand of automotive filtration products...
becoming the team's new sponsor. After eleven races, he was replaced by Mike Wallace
Mike Wallace (NASCAR)
Mike Wallace is a NASCAR race car driver born in Fenton, Missouri. He currently drives the #01 Chevrolet for JD Motorsports in the Nationwide Series. He is a younger brother to Rusty Wallace, older brother to Kenny Wallace, and uncle to Steve Wallace...
, who had a second place finish at California Speedway
California Speedway
Auto Club Speedway is a two-mile , low-banked, D-shaped oval superspeedway in Fontana, California which has hosted NASCAR racing annually since 1997. The track was also used for open wheel racing events until 2005. The racetrack is located near the former locations of Ontario Motor Speedway and...
. Schrader himself ran a second entry, the #53 Penda Truck Accessories Chevy, at Richmond International Raceway
Richmond International Raceway
Richmond International Raceway is a 3/4-mile , D-shaped, asphalt race track located just outside Richmond, Virginia in Henrico County. It hosts the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series...
, finishing sixth. Wallace drove exclusively for Schrader in 1998, posting eleven top-tens. He would leave for Ultra Motorsports
Ultra Motorsports
Ultra Motorsports was a NASCAR Winston Cup & Craftsman Truck Series racing team. Jim Smith helped start the team and the Craftsman Truck Series. It ran full time in the Craftsman Truck Series from 1994 to 2005, earning many wins and a 2005 championship with Ted Musgrave...
at the end of the season, and Purolator ended its sponsorship in NASCAR.
Rookie Scott Hansen was tabbed as the new driver of the 52, and Oakwood Homes became the team's new sponsor. Hansen qualified for every race and had three top-tens when Schrader replaced him in the final race of the year, where he crashed out. Hansen still finished 2nd in the NASCAR Rookie of the Year
NASCAR Rookie of the Year
The NASCAR Rookie of the Year Award is presented to the first-year driver that has the best season in a NASCAR season. Each of NASCAR's national and regional touring series selects a RotY winner each year....
standings and eighteenth in points. The 52 team went back to part-time racing after picking up Federated Auto Parts sponsorship in 2000, with Schrader sharing the ride with Lyndon Amick
Lyndon Amick
Lyndon Amick is a former NASCAR driver. He spent most of his NASCAR career in the NASCAR Busch Series driving for his family-owned team....
, who had a second place run at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Schrader and Amick continued to run part-time in 2001, with Schrader himself posting a second place finish at Darlington Raceway
Darlington Raceway
Darlington Raceway is a race track built for NASCAR racing located near Darlington, South Carolina. It is nicknamed the "Lady in Black" and "The Track Too Tough to Tame" by many NASCAR fans and drivers and advertised as "A NASCAR Tradition"...
. During 2001 & 2002, KSR ran in the Busch Series again in the #07 Chevy with Schrader attempting a total of three races, and Michael Vergers failing to qualify in his attempt. In 2002, Wallace returned to the team as co-driver, replacing Amick. The two would combine for twelve starts and five top-ten finishes. Schrader ran eleven races in 2003, and Wallace four, with four top-tens. Wallace began the 2004 season with a third place finish, before Schrader took over for the rest of the runs for the years. He had four top-tens and a pole at Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961...
. He made nine more starts in 2005, but had only one top-ten finish.
Hiatus and Return
KSR did not run any major series races over the next two seasons, focusing on the ARCA series, fielding entries for Chris Bristol. The team returned in 20082008 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
The 2008 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series began on February 15, 2008 at Daytona International Speedway with the Chevy Silverado HD 250. The season concluded on November 14 of that year at Homestead-Miami Speedway with the Ford 200. Johnny Benson of Bill Davis Racing was crowned champion. The season...
, when Schrader returned with Federated Auto Parts sponsoring his Toyota Tundra
Toyota Tundra
The Toyota Tundra is a full-size pickup truck introduced by Toyota in the year 2000. It was widely considered to be the first full-size import-brand truck built with an American look and feel and a refined V8 engine. The Tundra was eventually nominated for the North American Truck of the Year...
. In his first race back, he started 28th and finished 4th.