SCHRADER 7TH AT RICHMOND;
MOVES TO 29TH IN POINT STANDINGS
Add another top-ten finish to Ken Schrader’s and the Wood Brothers Racing stats. The driver of the U.S. Air Force Ford Fusion finished seventh at Richmond Saturday night – his best finish so far this season. (Schrader – 184; Wood Brothers Racing – 516)
After starting 17th for the Chevy Rock and Roll 400, it soon became apparent Ken’s Air Force Fusion was going to be good on longer runs. When Schrader brought the car in on lap 80 for his second pit stop of the night, the momentum of the race changed. The crew changed four tires and added fuel in well under 13 seconds.
Crew Chief Michael “Fatback” McSwain congratulated is pit crew saying, “That was an awesome stop guys, I mean awesome!” Ken had been in 20th when the caution flag was displayed the lap before, and he left the pits 12th.
One more stop – 40 laps later - that included slight adjustments in air pressure and chassis set-up, and the car and driver were ready to make a run at the top-10.
After the race Schrader explained, "We were just a little too tight all night, but we got it better. We got it tight like we wanted it, but obviously got it good. We started 17th and never made the big fall back. We gained a couple and then pit calls, along with pit stops, allowed us to just keep gaining.
Twenty-two laps after the midway Ken brought the car back in under the caution flag, after recording the fastest lap times a few laps before, and told the crew he didn’t want any changes made to the car. He came in ninth and went back on the track eighth.
The next time the yellow flag come out, 30 laps later, McSwain told his driver to stay on the track. “I thought when he said, 'Don't pit.' I said, 'That's good. We're not gonna fall back to ninth or 10th.' It all just worked out."
That call put Ken in the lead, and he stayed there for 10 laps until cars with fresh tires caught up. He fell back to sixth and stayed there until his final stop on lap 323. As the race finished the car was gaining again, and Ken got back by a couple of guys who had gotten around him.
Congratulations and thanks were exchanged between Schrader and the crew when the race was over. It was a good night for everyone.
Asked what the finish did for the team, Ken didn’t brag. He simply replied, “It was a good night, but it's just another night. It's no big deal, but it's just the fact that I think it's five out of the last seven that have been real solid. Last week we missing practice cost us, but we've just been solid."
Solid is a good feeling going into the final 10 races of the year.
Kevin Harvick outran Kyle Busch and Kasey Kahne to win the race. The three had battled the entire race and were definitely driving the dominant cars Saturday night.
In addition to the top-ten finish, Ken moved up a spot in points to 29th, and is now only 149 out of 25th.
The Richmond event set the 10 drivers and teams now eligible to chase the 2006 season championship.
As of Saturday night they are:
- Matt Kenseth 3765
- Jimmie Johnson 3728
- Kevin Harvick 3481
- Kyle Busch 3424
- Denny Hamlin 3348
- Dale Earnhardt, Jr. 3338
- Mark Martin 3336
- Jeff Burton 3322
- Jeff Gordon 3321
- Kasey Kahne 3319
The 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup reigning champion Tony Stewart missed the cut by 16 points after finishing 18th at Richmond and dropping three spots in the standings to 11th.
Richmond Results
- Kevin Harvick
- Kyle Busch
- Kasey Kahne
- Dave Blaney
- Mark Martin
- Greg Biffle
- Ken Schrader
- Matt Kenseth
- Jeff Burton
- Scott Riggs
New Hampshire International Speedway is the site of next week’s event. The Sylvania 300 will be televised live on TNT with coverage beginning at 12:30 p.m. EDT Sunday, September 17. The Motor Racing Network will also broadcast the event over its network of radio affiliates.
