SCHRADER 25TH AT TALLADEGA;

MOVES UP TO 28TH IN POINTS

 

Ken Schrader was on the move in his Motorcraft Ford Fusion Sunday afternoon at Talladega.  A veteran of 43 starts on the Alabama high-banked super speedway, Ken had tested his car’s drafting ability and knew he could move up in the huge pack of cars that dominate the racing at Talladega, but he preferred to stay toward the back of the field.

 

Then on lap 103 Schrader was making his way forward when the 18 car braked directly in front of him.  With no place to go, nor time to respond, Schrader hit J.J. Yeley’s car severely damaging the nose of his #21 Fusion.

 

In the eight trips to the pit between then and the end of the race, the Motorcraft crew replaced the nose, added bear bond tape to several areas of the car and pulled the right front fender away from the tire.

 

Even with an ill-handling car Ken finished 25th only one lap down.  

 

After starting 23rd, the veteran driver quickly dropped back giving the field an opportunity to sort itself out.  Following his first pit stop he made a run through the field from 37th to 17th.  After going in for his second stop, he dropped back again.  He was running 27th when the incident with Yeley occurred.

 

Rarely does a race at Talladega run without at least one accident involving multiple cars.  The “big one” on Sunday happened on lap 137.  Thirteen cars were damaged to varying degrees.  Then on lap 174 five more vehicles tangled.  But probably the most spectacular  incident occurred on the final lap amongst the top three contenders.  It appeared on replays that Brian Vickers nudged second place Jimmy Johnson who hit leader Dale Earnhardt, Jr.  Johnson and Earnhardt spun while Vickers completed the lap and went to victory lane.

 

NASCAR delayed release of the results of the race until officials reviewed the scoring loops and recorded video.  Earnhardt ended up 23rd, and Johnson 24th. 

 

Following the UAW Ford 500 only 185 points separate the 10 drivers in the chase for the championship with six events left on the 2006 schedule.  Jeff Burton now leads the group by a mere six points.

 

Sunday’s 25th place finish may have been a disappointment, Schrader and Wood Brothers Racing fans can celebrate one positive out of the day.  Ken is now 28th in points, up one spot after several weeks in 29th.

 

This coming Saturday night, October 14, the Cup Series will compete at Lowe’s Motor Speedway for the Bank of America 500.  NBC will provide live television coverage beginning at 7:00 p.m.  The Performance Racing Network will broadcast the 334-lap race over its network of radio affiliates.

 

Talladega results:

1. Brian Vickers
2. Kasey Kahne
3. Kurt Busch
4. Matt Kenseth
5. Martin Truex, Jr.
6. Kevin Harvick
7. Jeff Green
8. Mark Martin
9. Carl Edwards
10. Bobby Labonte

   25.  Ken Schrader

 

Points after Talladega

1. Jeff Burton                  5598
2. Matt Kenseth                         5592
3. Mark Martin                           5588
4. Kevin Harvick                        5565
5. Denny Hamlin                         5547
6. Dale Earnhardt, Jr.    5492
7. Jeff Gordon                            5451
8. Jimmie Johnson                       5442
9. Kasey Kahne                         5413
10. Kyle Busch                 5413

   28.  Ken Schrader                       2671