Ken Schrader
No. 18 Fastenal Dodge Ram Race Recap
The New Hampshire 200
New Hampshire International Speedway
The heavy rain showers on a cool Saturday morning in New Hampshire forced NASCAR to cancel qualifying for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series New Hampshire 200. The field was set by owner points and Fastenal Driver Ken Schrader started the event in the 15th position. Schrader worked his way through the field getting has high as seventh place before the first caution waved on lap 39. A two-tire pit stop under the caution moved Schrader up into the fifth position, but a tight race truck caused him to fall back to 10th position. Uncharacteristic of New Hampshire races, teams pitted under green flag conditions. Unfortunately an untimely caution after that resulted in Schrader going one lap down to the leader with only 72 laps to go. Schrader finished 17th in the 18th race of 2007 season.
The No. 18 Fastenal Dodge New Hampshire Race Recap
Several early morning rain showers at “The Magic Mile” forced NASCAR to cancel qualifying. The field was set by owner points according to the NASCAR rule book. Schrader started the event in the 15th position.
“It’s a little tight off,” said Schrader on lap 20 while running in 12th place.
On lap 30 he radioed in, “It’s a little tight in the middle now.”
The first caution waved on lap 39 for debris. “Let’s take two tires to gain track position,” said Crew Chief Jeff White when the caution came out. Schrader brought the Fastenal Dodge down pit road to the attention of the Fastenal Racing Team. They jumped into action changing two tires, adding fuel and went up two rounds on the track bar to help the tight condition. He restarted in the fifth position.
The second caution came out only five laps later for an accident in turn three. “The tires have not had time to come in just yet,” said Schrader while running sixth.
“It gets really tight up high,” said Schrader on lap 58 while running in the seventh position.
By lap 76 the Fastenal Dodge was still battling in the top 10. “The right rear needs more drive off,” said Schrader.
Over the next few laps White coached Schrader around the track, “You are pulling off some great laps buddy. Keep up your rhythm.”
By lap 100 Schrader was running in 11th. “Now, I have to get it loose to get it to turn,” he said. “We will get you fixed up on the next stop,” said White. “We are going to have to pit in 28 laps for fuel.”
On lap 128, while under green flag conditions, Schrader drove the Fastenal Dodge down pit road to the attention of his crew. The Fastenal Racing team changed all four tires, added two cans of fuel and went up two more rounds on the track bar. He returned to the race track in 20th position, one lap down to the leader.
Unfortunately, the final caution came out several laps later before the race leader had pitted trapping Schrader one lap down. He restarted in the 15th position on lap 145.
“It is so hard to pass right now,” said Schrader “It is really tight”. In the final laps of the event he held off a charging Terry Cook to finish in the 17th position.
Ron Hornaday Jr. won the The New Hampshire 200 before an estimated crowd of 31,000. Erik Darnell, Mike Skinner, Todd Bodine and Mike Bliss rounded out the top five finishers. The next event for the NCTS will be at Las Vegas Motor Speedway next weekend.
