Ken Schrader Bio
Birthdate: May 29,1955
Spouse: Ann
Residence:
Concord, N.C.
Children: Dorothy, Sheldon
Hometown: Fenton, Mo.
Its been said that Ken Schrader
will race anything that has wheels. Asphalt or dirt, superspeedway or half-mile track it doesnt matter as long as it has three
pedals and a steering wheel.
Since he was a little boy growing up in Fenton, Mo., Schrader has found happiness driving
in circles. So, its no surprise that after 17 full seasons in the Winston Cup Series, Schrader still cant wait to put on his
helmet, strap in his drivers seat and chase the checkered flag every Sunday afternoon.
In 2002, Schrader will be taking
the green flag for the M&MsŪ Racing Team and the flashiest pit crew on the Winston Cup Circuit for the third consecutive
season. Schrader and M&MsŪ spokescandies Red and Yellow hope that the third year will be the charm for the colorful No.
36 team and MB2 Motorsports.
The M&MsŪ Racing Team seemed to make some gains in 2001, Schrader said. The chemistry
was there, and we had some great runs throughout the season. Unfortunately, we had our share of bad luck. If luck is on our
side this season, Im pretty confident that good things are going to happen for this team.
In 2002, Schrader hopes the
M&MsŪ team can continue to improve on last seasons successes. The team posted five top 10s in 2001 and finished 19th in
the points standings. The No. 36 car also led the field in several exciting races during the season.
The 2001 season
was a season of challenges and changes for the M&MsŪ Racing Team. For most of 2001, the No. 36 team was trying to conquer
the learning curve. It was the first full season that two cars the No. 36 and the No. 10 driven by Johnny Benson have worked
as a team both on and off the track. Also, early in the season, crew chief Newt Moore joined Schrader and the M&MsŪ Racing
Team. Both changes helped to provide sparks for the No. 36 team.
The M&MsŪ Racing Team put together some strong,
solid runs during the 2001 season. I credit a lot of that to the chemistry Newt and I found together, Schrader said. It also
really helped having Johnny as a teammate. It was really beneficial to both of us to be able to share information both good
and bad, especially at the two new tracks.
In 2002, were all going to be coming back, so we wont be starting over.
Well be able to come out of the box strong and put our minds on what were here to do and thats to win a race.
For Schrader,
racing and winning are second nature. Schraders racing career started when his dad Bill tied a cable from his go-kart to a
post in the backyard of his Midwestern home. When the go-kart ran out of gas, theyd refuel it, and Schrader would start going
in circles again.
Im not exaggerating when I say that racing is all Ive ever known, Schrader said. Ive been racing
since I could walk, and it is really all I have ever wanted to do. I would race everyday if I had the opportunity.
True
to his word, most people in racing would tell you that Schrader does race just about everyday. For the past 17 years, he has
focused on racing full-time in the Winston Cup Series. However, Schrader also runs with his self-owned team in the Craftsman
Truck Series, Winston West Series, ARCA and Southwest Featherlite Series on occasion. During the week, hell also race at various
small tracks in the Midwest.
Before getting behind the wheel of a stock car, Schrader raced all over the Midwest, driving
mostly open wheel cars. He won in every division he raced, including two USAC championships. Schrader won the USAC Silver
Crown Championship in 1982, and he followed that up by taking top honors in the USAC Sprint Car division in 1983. Despite
his success in the open wheel ranks, Schrader wanted to find a home in the world of stock car racing.
He got his big
break in 1984 from Elmo Langley. As a rookie, Schrader rented Langleys Fords for three races in 1984 before running out of
money. By being smart and careful with the equipment, Langley allowed Schrader to run two extra races that year. By the end
of the season, the cars were still in one piece and Schrader had gotten his taste of the big time.
From there, Schrader
wasted no time getting on the phone to Winston Cup owner Junie Donlavey. Impressed by Schraders talent, Donlavey took a chance
on the young driver. In 1985, the two claimed rookie of the year honors.
From Donlavey Racing, Schrader moved to Hendrick
Motorsports where he earned all four of his victories in nine seasons with the organization. In 1997, Schrader went to drive
for Andy Petree. After three years, five poles and 25 top-10 finishes, Schrader moved to the M&MsŪ Racing Team in 2000.
In two seasons, Schrader has posted seven top 10s.
In 17 years, Schrader has collected a total of 528 starts and more
than $17 million in earnings. He has four wins to his credit (Talladega, 1988; Charlotte, 1989; Atlanta, 1991; Dover 1991)
as well as 64 top-five and 176 top-10 finishes. And Schrader has led the field to the green flag on 23 occasions.
In
2002, the Missouri short track native will begin his 18th season in the Winston Cup ranks. With the circuits flashiest pit
crew and famous M&MsŪ Spokescandies on board, Schrader hopes that the M&MsŪ Racing Team will turn in some sweet on-track
performances that will bring smiles to faces everywhere.
