SCHRADER OUT EARLY AT TALLADEGA; FINISHES 42ND

 

It only took nine laps for the bumper-to-bumper pack of 43 cars to get five wide in the third turn at Talladega during Monday’s rain-delayed race. And the results involved 13 cars and sent the #21 Little Debbie Fusion to the garage and onto the hauler for the trip home.

 

Driver Ken Schrader told the media, “You run out of options pretty quick here, but there are just so many times where there’s no need for it to start.  That’s the aggravating part.”  WHERE WERE YOU WHEN IT ALL STARTED?  “I was just in the wrong place.”  WHAT DID YOU SEE?  “Just a whole lot of stuff I didn’t want to.  Somebody ran into somebody else and then it just starts gathering cars as it goes.  We got down in the grass and thought we were gonna be OK for a little bit, but we got turned around and slid into Kasey.  It’s not what we needed and not what anybody needs.”

 

The Little Debbie Fusion received such extensive damage to the right side that it came into the garage on a rollback. 

 

Schrader made the mandatory trip to the infield care center where he was checked and released.

 

In addition to Schrader and Kahne, Kirk Shelmerdine, Clint Bowyer and Hermie Sadler were knocked out of the race.  Others involved were J.J. Yeley, Martin Truex, Jr., Kyle Busch, Ryan Newman, Kevin Harvick, Mark Martin, Sterling Marlin and David Stremme.

 

Schrader’s 42nd place finish dropped him six spots in the point standings to 33rd. 

 

Jimmie Johnson, who won Monday’s 188 lap-event regained his lead in the points replacing Matt Kenseth who is now second.

 

Following a two-day test session at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series resumes regular competition at Richmond International Raceway this coming weekend.  The Crown Royal 400 is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 6.  It will be televised live on FX and carried over the Motor Racing Network of radio affiliates.

 

 

Talladega top-ten

1. Jimmie Johnson
2. Tony Stewart
3. Brian Vickers
4. Jeff Burton
5. Jamie McMurray
6. Matt Kenseth
7. Kurt Busch
8. Carl Edwards
9. Scott Riggs
10. Robby Gordon

    42.  Ken Schrader

 

Points after Talladega

1. Jimmie Johnson                    1394
2. Matt Kenseth                         1373
3. Tony Stewart                          1316
4. Kasey Kahne                         1213
5. Mark Martin                           1210
6. Jeff Gordon                            1173
7. Kevin Harvick                        1138
8. Dale Earnhardt, Jr.                1120
9. Kyle Busch                             1077
10. Dale Jarrett                            1066

33.         Ken Schrader                    749