SCHRADER 23RD AT CALIFORNIA;

STAYS 30TH IN POINT STANDINGS

A blown engine during the first practice on Saturday knocked Ken Schrader and his U.S. Air Force Fusion crew out of the end of that practice and “happy hour”.  That practice time would have been valuable in setting up the car for the race, and its loss was largely responsible for Sunday’s 23rd place finish according to the driver. 

 

“Losing “happy hour” hurt us a bunch,” said Schrader following Sunday’s Sony HD 500.  “That was the start of the problems.  The guys worked on a set-up that would give us options for changes during the race, but without that final practice they were kind of taking a shot in the dark for a starting point.  After each pit stop, with one exception, we were pretty tight.  If we could get a long run it would start to loosen up where I could drive it.  But most of the night the front end just wouldn’t stick good enough for the car to turn like it needed to. 

 

“I have to give the pit crew credit for what they did though.  They really had a good night and that helped a lot.  I think we gained spots pretty much every time we pitted.  The car just wouldn’t let me take advantage of it.

 

“Ernie (Cope) and the guys really worked to make it right.  They just needed that final practice though, and that was our downfall.”

 

Midway through the first practice on Saturday the engine let go in the Air Force Ford.  And, although the crew worked feverishly to change engines there just wasn’t enough time to get Ken back on the track before the end of the day’s second and final practice.

 

Cope, who has been assisting Michael “Fatback” McSwain the past few weeks stepped up to the crew chief position this week in McSwain’s absence.  Saturday, Wood Brothers Racing co-owner Eddie Wood said, “This weekend Fatback stayed back to get ready for Richmond and Loudon and help our short track stuff.  It wasn’t something we really planned in advance, but it just kind of worked out that way.  Ernie has been helping Fatback since he came back and since Fatback had some stuff to do, it’s a no-brainer to have Ernie fill in.  Ernie is an experienced crew chief in his own right, so it’s business as usual.”

 

Schrader qualified 29th on Friday, but was forced to start the race from the back of the 43-car field because of the engine change.  Ken moved quickly through the pack to 34th before the first stop.  The pit crew changed four tires and filled the car with fuel in 13 seconds flat gaining three positions in the pits.  When racing resumed the #21 was 31st, and moved up another two spots before the next yellow flag flew 15 laps later.  Again the pit crew gained three positions in the pits.  This time Ken was 26th when he went back out on the track.

 

The next stop came under green, and Schrader lost a lap.  But, the yellow flag came out for debris not too many laps later, and Ken was the recipient of the “Lucky Dog” award.

Even though the car never was quite right, Schrader managed to stay on the lead lap until with less than 10 laps to go he was forced to come in to the pits one last time for a gas and go. 

 

Kasey Kahne was the class of the field sweeping the weekend’s trips to victory lane.  He also won Saturday night’s Busch Series event.  Dale Earnhardt crossed the start/finish line on Sunday more than three seconds behind Kahne for second place.

 

For the first time since the spring race at Talladega May 1, the NEXTEL Cup Series has a new point leader.  Matt Kenseth now sits in the top spot by nine points over Jimmie Johnson.  Kevin Harvick remains third. 

 

Schrader stayed 30th, and is now only eight points out of 29th and 203 out of the top 25.

 

Richmond International Raceway’s .75-mile D-shaped oval will host next week’s race.  TNT will carry the live telecast of the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 Saturday, September 9.  The telecast begins at 7:00 p.m. EDT.  The Motor Racing Network will also broadcast the event live over its network of radio affiliates.

 

California results

  1. Kasey Kahne
  2. Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
  3. Clint Bowyer
  4. Carl Edwards
  5. Jeff Gordon
  6. Denny Hamlin
  7. Matt Kenseth
  8. Kyle Busch
  9. Tony Stewart
  10. Dale Jarrett

   23. Ken Schrader

 

Points after California

  1. Matt Kenseth                         3638
  2. Jimmie Johnson                       3629
  3. Kevin Harvick                        3296
  4. Jeff Gordon                            3251
  5. Kyle Busch                 3244
  6. Dale Earnhardt, Jr.    3226
  7. Denny Hamlin                         3225
  8. Tony Stewart                          3194
  9. Mark Martin                           3181
  10. Jeff Burton                  3179

   30.  Ken Schrader                       2138