Ken Schrader

No. 18 Fastenal Dodge Ram Race Recap

The American Commercial Lines 200

Atlanta Motor Speedway  

 

Hampton, GA. (March 19, 2007) – Fastenal Driver Ken Schrader desperately wanted a long green flag run in the final laps of Friday night’s caution filled American Commercial Lines 200 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. “I know I can catch the guys in front of me, but all they are doing is restarting and wrecking again,” said Schrader during the eighth of nine cautions. After an awesome qualifying effort on Friday afternoon Schrader started the event in the 11th position, but ran into trouble in the opening laps of the third NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event of the season. Competitor Tyler Walker had trouble immediately following the green flag sending debris all over the race track right into the path of the No. 18 Fastenal Dodge. Schrader was forced to pit road for a fresh set of left side tires, and he quickly reentered the race making up the lost ground. By lap 50 Schrader had worked his way into the 14th position, but then was plagued by seven more cautions in the final 80 laps of the event. Schrader remained in the 14th position and scored his second consecutive top-15 finish.

 

No. 18 Fastenal Dodge Atlanta  Speedway Race Recap

  • Schrader qualified his Fastenal Dodge in the 11th position Friday afternoon under chilly temperatures. It was the team’s best qualifying effort of the season.
  • Competitor Tyler Walker had trouble immediately following the green flag sending debris all over the race track right into the path of the No. 18 Fastenal Dodge. Schrader was forced to pit road for a fresh set of left side tires. He restarted in the 32nd position.
  • By lap 20 Schrader had worked his way into the 20th position before the second caution waved on lap 27 for a NASCAR competition yellow. “Free me up everywhere,” said Schrader before coming down pit road. The Fastenal Racing Team cranked out a lighting fast pit stop changing all four tires, added fuel and made a four-round track bar adjustment to free him up. The team gained two spots on pit road and Schrader restarted in the 18th position.   
  • The third caution of the night waved on lap 57 for an accident on the back stretch. “Go ahead and free me up so more,” said Schrader, while running in the 14th position. Once again the Fastenal Racing team performed a perfect pit stop adding fuel, changing all four tires and went up two more rounds on the track bar. He restarted in the 14th position.
  • Schrader ran comfortably in the 14th position until the fifth caution waved on lap 77. “It’s a little loose now,” said Schrader. “Let’s take out the two rounds we put in on the last pit stop.” Crew Chief Jeff White agreed and the No. 18 Fastenal Race Team went to work changing all four tires, adding fuel and completing the track bar adjustment.  
  • The final laps of the event was plagued by a record number of cautions. “I have a great truck, but I need a long green flag run to pass some of these guys,” said a frustrated Schrader under the eighth caution of the night.
  • Schrader remained in the 14th position and scored his second consecutive top-15 finish.

 

Mike Skinner won The American Commercial Lines 200 before an estimated crowd of 31,400. Todd Bodine, Matt Crafton, Rick Crawford and Clint Bowyer rounded out the top five finishers.