SCHRADER 41ST AT INFINEON

FOLLOWING FIRST LAP ACCIDENT

 

The first lap at Infineon Raceway on Sunday was also the last one for Ken Schrader and his Little Debbie Ford Fusion crew.

 

Schrader lost traction in turn eight and his car started to slide sideways.  Then the Little Debbie Ford slid back across the track and was struck by Sterling Marlin.  He was listed 41st on the results sheet.  

 

Following his release from the infield care center Ken told the media, “I just came across the track and got hit.”  YOU’RE OKAY THOUGH?  “Yeah.”  HOW HARD OF A HIT WAS THAT?  “It was pretty hard.  I felt it.”  CAN YOU DESCRIBE MORE OF WHAT HAPPENED?  “I was facing the wrong direction coming back across the track.  I looked up and saw all kinds of cars and said, ‘There ain’t no way they all are gonna miss us,’ and they didn’t.”  CAN YOU COMPARE THAT HIT TO ANYTHING?  “It was right up there.  It was a good one.”  CAN YOU DESCRIBE WHAT HAPPENED?  “I was just going the wrong direction on the race track in front of them and I knew it wasn’t gonna be pretty and it wasn’t.”  DID YOU GET TURNED?  “I’m not saying I did because I don’t know if I did or not, and it wouldn’t be like the first time I was spun out either.  It’s racing.” 

 

After viewing a tape of the incident Ken said, “I don’t think Carl (Edwards) hit us.” 

 

The accident started when Schrader got sideways in turn eight.  As the car slid back across the track, out of his control, he was hit on the passenger side in the rear by Sterling Marlin, who was hit from behind by Tom Hubert.  All three cars went to the garage on rollbacks. 

 

Afterwards Marlin said, “Just typical road course stuff.  We’d passed three or four cars before we got to that point.  I seen Kenny spinning and I thought he was going to the right.  No where to go.  I just hate it for everybody.”

 

Schrader’s, Marlin’s and Hubert’s cars were all damaged beyond repair.

 

Jeff Gordon won the race crossing the start/finish line ahead of Ryan Newman and Terry Labonte.

 

Jimmie Johnson maintains his point lead in the season standings.  Ken dropped two positions to 33rd.

 

The second half of the 2006 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season begins with the Pepsi 400 this coming Saturday, July 1 at Daytona International Raceway.  Live television coverage of the event begins at 7:30 p.m. of FOX.  The start of the race is scheduled for 7:55 p.m.  Radio coverage will be provided by the Motor Racing Network (MRN).

 

 

Infineon Top-Ten

1. Jeff Gordon
2. Ryan Newman
3. Terry Labonte
4.  Greg Biffle
5. Kurt Busch
6. Carl Edwards
7. Jeff Burton
8. Elliott Sadler
9. Boris Said
10. Jimmie Johnson 

   41. Ken Schrader

 

Points after Infineon

1. Jimmie Johnson                       2434
2. Matt Kenseth                         2333
3. Kasey Kahne                         2121
4. Mark Martin                           2113
5. Dale Earnhardt, Jr.    2105
6. Jeff Burton                  2034
7. Tony Stewart                          2012
8. Jeff Gordon                            1986
9. Greg Biffle                  1967
10. Kevin Harvick                        1945

   33.      Ken Schrader                       1281