Ken Schrader
No. 18 Fastenal Dodge Ram Race Recap
The Built Ford Tough 225
Kentucky Speedway

Driver Ken Schrader battled an extremely loose race truck the entire running of the Build Ford Tough 225 and as a result finished 17th in the No. 18 Fastenal Dodge. The Fastenal Racing Team worked extremely hard to fix the loose condition, making three pit stops under three separate cautions to lower the track bar and add a rubber to help the persistent condition. Schrader did his best to hold off leader, even picking up six tenths per lap, Mike Skinner in the final laps, but fell short. He went one lap down with 15 laps left in the event.

The No. 18 Fastenal Dodge Kentucky Race Recap

  • Schrader qualified the No. 18 Fastenal Dodge in the 23rd starting position on Saturday morning.
  • On lap five, while running in the 25th position, Schrader radioed in, “It’s loose everywhere.”
  • Fortunately for Schrader a caution waved on lap 13 for an accident in turn four. Trying to give his driver an extra push, Crew Chief Jeff White brought Schrader down pit road to the attention of the Fastenal Racing Team. They cranked out a fast pit stop adding fuel and lowering the track bar six rounds to help tighten up the Dodge Ram. He restarted in 28th spot.
  • On lap 23 Schrader was running in the 24th position. “I’m still very loose,” he told White.
  • By lap 30 the condition wasn’t getting much better, but Schrader was able to maintain the 24th position. However, the leader was gaining and the Fastenal Dodge was in risk of going one lap down.
  • On lap 49 Schrader was unable to hold off the leader. Thankfully, a caution waved two laps later allowing Schrader to be the recipient of the lucky dog award and return to the lead pack.
  • Under that caution White once again brought Schrader down pit road for assistance. The Fastenal Racing Team changed all four tires, added fuel, went down four more rounds on the track bar and put a rubber in the right rear. He restarted in the 20th position on lap 58.
  • Schrader moved into the 18th position on lap 70 despite the loose condition.
  • The final caution waved on lap 96 for a spin. Schrader hit pit road for another round of changes.
  • The Fastenal Racing Team went down four more rounds on the track bar, changed four tires and added fuel. He restarted in the 20th spot on lap 100.
    Schrader was able to work his way to 17th position, but could not hold off the leader in the closing laps of the event. On lap 135 he went one lap down and finished 17th.

Skinner won the Built Ford Tough 225 before an estimated crowd of 49,000. Travis Kvapil, Ted Musgrave, Ryan Matthews and David Green rounded out the top five finishers. The next event for the NCTS will be at O’Reilly Raceway Park on July 27th with Schrader behind the wheel.