SCHRADER 34TH AT NEW HAMPSHIRE;

NOW 34TH IN POINT STANDINGS

Problems for Ken Schrader and his #21 Sunbelt Snacks Ford team began early in the weekend at New Hampshire and continued throughout the 300-lap race Sunday afternoon.  However, his 34th place finish was the result of contact with Tony Raines that sent the Sunbelt Fusion into a spin.  Schrader was forced to come into the pits with enough damage to put him five laps in arrears by the end of the event.

 

The team had struggled with the set-up from the time the car came off the truck on Friday.  Qualifying Friday afternoon resulted in 21st fast time.  When he came off the track Ken said, “It wasn’t all bad.  We picked up from practice.  But, Saturday’s practice sessions did not improve the car’s performance.

 

When the race started, the dayglo yellow Ford quickly dropped back to 30th place, and the driver reported to the team, “something is making this thing bounce.”  He also told them it was tight in the middle and off.  Adjustments during pit stops produced mixed results. 

 

The Lucky Dog rule put the 21 back on the lead lap when the yellow flag was displayed on lap 96, and then a fortunate yellow flag on lap 186 before Ken had to pit under green, and after a number of the leaders had come in once again restored him to the same lap with the front runners. 

 

But not too long after that Schrader told the crew, “It’s just terrible.  It is still bouncing.  It’s loose in and tight off.  We’ve helped it a shade, but not much.”

 

Then on the 266th lap Raines made contact with Schrader slowing the 21 enough to drop him from 27th to 34th place, five laps down.

 

A late yellow gave the Lenox Industrial Tools 300 a green, white, checker finish and Kyle Busch won the event over Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle.  Jimmie Johnson remains the point leader. Matt Kenseth is still in second place this week, and Jeff Burton moved up one place to third.

 

The NEXTEL Cup Series returns to Pocono Raceway next weekend for the Pennsylvania 500.  The race will be televised live on TNT with coverage beginning at 1:30 p.m.  The 200 lap, 500-mile event will also be carried over the Motor Racing Network (MRN) of radio affiliates.

 

New Hampshire top-10

1. Kyle Busch
2. Carl Edwards
3. Greg Biffle
4. Mark Martin
5. Kevin Harvick
6. Denny Hamlin
7. Jeff Burton
8. Kasey Kahne
9. Jimmie Johnson
10. Scott Riggs

   34.  Ken Schrader

 

Points after New Hampshire

1. Jimmie Johnson         2789
2. Matt Kenseth            2721
3. Jeff Burton                 2478
4. Kyle Busch                 2455
5. Mark Martin             2451
6. Kasey Kahne            2445
7. Dale Earnhardt., Jr.   2428
8. Kevin Harvick           2408
9. Jeff Gordon                 2342
10. Greg Biffle                  2342

34.         Ken Schrader          1506