SCHRADER ON TO ‘CAlLIFORNIA DREAMING’ AT THE AUTO CLUB 500
 

The Wood Brothers/JTG Race Team and the No. 21 Little Debbie Ford are ready for their first cross-country trip out West to race in the Auto Club 500 at California Speedway this weekend.  After disappointment centering on last week’s 35th place finish in the year’s biggest event, the Daytona 500, driver Ken Schrader is revved up about beginning a new weekend of racing.  

 

The team is excited about the cars they intend to bring to the track.  Chassis 85 is a brand new car, which has only seen the track once—at the Las Vegas test back in January.  A lot of time and patience went into the engineering of the chassis and the crew is anxious to see what the car will produce during the practice sessions prior to the race.

 

California Speedway in Fontana, California hasn’t always been the kindest track to Ken Schrader, driver of the No. 21 Little Debbie Ford, but he has had a couple of good memories from the inaugural event in 1997.  It was there that he qualified fifth and led eight laps of the race.

 

WHAT THE TEAM HAS TO SAY

Ken Schrader, driver of the No. 21 Little Debbie Ford Fusion:

“Last week was last week and nobody wants to move on more than me…it was a tough way to end the day for us.  That being said, California obviously is going to put more of the outcome in the driver’s hands as opposed to the car.  I think most of the drivers breathe a sigh of relief when they leave Daytona and get that measure of control back.

 

We’ve got a brand new car this weekend and I liked the way it responded to the changes during the Vegas test.  We’ll know more after that first practice session Friday morning.  I’m running the truck race on Friday night so hopefully I can learn a thing or two about getting around the place that will transfer over on Sunday.”

 

Ernie Cope, Crew Chief of the No. 21 Little Debbie Ford Fusion:

“California is going to be a place, I think, where we’re going to learn more about ourselves as a team as opposed to Daytona.  Everything is so crazy those first two weeks.  This is our chance to evaluate our cars, our personnel and how well we’ll all work together for the rest of the year.

 

We certainly aren’t going to take this event lightly.  We’ve got a great car—a brand new one and the guys on pit road were awesome during the race Sunday.  I think we have all of the elements to put together a solid weekend.  If we get better each week, that’s all a crew chief can ask for.”

 

FAST & FUN FACTS:

-Ken Schrader has 13 starts under his belt at the 2-mile track.  He led 12 laps at California Speedway, including eight in the inaugural 1997 event.  He qualified fifth for that same race.  His best finish is 14th in both 1999 (1st event) and 2005 (2nd event).

-Ken Schrader will be making a personal appearance at the Stater Brothers/Pepsi Fontana Fan Fest on the grounds of the California Speedway on Thursday, February 22nd from 6:00-8:00 p.m.  Autograph cards will be on hand or fans can bring their favorite Schrader merchandise for him to sign.  A concert by Sammy Hagar will follow the event.

 

RACE INFORMATION:

What – Auto Club 500 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race

When – Sunday, February 25th, 3:00 p.m. ET

Where – California Speedway; 250 laps, 500 miles

Network – FOX Network; MRN Radio Network