Texas Advance -- Fan Questions Answered

 

KEN SCHRADER:   “I DON’T EVER LISTEN TO MIKEY.

AND I HOPE YOU DON’T EITHER.”

 

Ken Schrader, driver of the #21 Wood Brothers Racing NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Ford fusion responds to fan’s questions concerning the Little Debbie logo decals, engines, equipment, qualifying rain-out line ups, I-55, Rally racing and next year.

 

My question concerns the decals that are used to cover the Little Debbie logos for Friday and Saturday action before a Sunday event. The team does a wonderful job of keeping McKee Foods' request in mind. How do those stickers actually work? How do they not damage the decals underneath? Is it similar to a giant Post-It note?  “The decals they use to cover the Little Debbie logo is a decal wrap.  We see cars now that the whole car is wrapped when they have a one-time sponsor.  They don’t even have to take the decals off to wrap it, or they can wrap a car that is just primer.  They stick really good, and when you peel it off, the decals underneath are just fine.  Now, if you bend something, the decals are going to get bent to.  You can’t compare it to a Post-It because every part has adhesive on it.”

 

Kenny, how have the motors been this year?  “We had a problem at Vegas because the engine picked up a little water leak and we pumped the water out of it.  But, the engine program is awesome.  Joey Arrington did a good job on the engines we had at BAM.  One week we’d be right there and one week we’d be off.  We were the only Cup car he was doing, and that is hard.  But, I love the engines this year.”

 

How does the Wood Brothers equipment compare to that of BAM Racing? “Basically, we’ve got the same equipment, but it is a substantially different engine program over here.  But, it is the resources and the engineers and the other cars compare off of and stuff that make the difference.  With the Busch cars and the trucks and an alliance with Jack Roush, we’ve got more people to talk to and more people to work with.  BAM has good equipment.  Last year in the fall we ran real good there so we think (David) Hyder and I will be good here.”

 

Since qualifying was rained out numerous times in '05 and snowed out once already in '06, do you feel it's really fair to line up by owner points every time there's a rainout? Shouldn't they alternate between lining up by points one time and then the following time lining up with the top 35 inverted (with 35th on the pole, 34th on the outside front row, etc all the way back to the points leader in 35th, and then 36-43 lining up 36-43)? Particularly at a place like Bristol or Martinsville where track position is so critical, the current system tends to create an unfair advantage for those who start (or end) the year in a good position.  “No.  You have to have a way to line them up.  There are certain privileges you earn by being up in the points.  And one of them is in the event of a rain-out you are going to start up front.  And, they have to have a way to do that.  Inverting it and random draw wouldn’t be fair.  It has worked that way in a number of series for a number of years, and I think it is good.”
 

Kenny great job you and Ray (Marler) are doing at I-55, are you happy with the success so far. I think it has really improved and enjoy watching races there. You guys deserve a pat on the back for the changes. What new things might you come up with next?  “We certainly enjoy it.  We’ve had it for ten years.  We’re very proud of it.  They (race tracks) are like big boats.  You just keep throwing money at them.  And, it keeps soaking up the money.  Right now we’re under way there with new bathrooms that are just about done; another new sponsor tower; and we’re constantly putting up new seats.  We put up new lights last year.  Just all kinds of improvements.”

 

I was wondering if you have ever driven in a rally? Would you like to?  “No, I have never driven in a rally and have no desire to ride in a rally.  I’ll take concrete walls over trees any day.  I know what angle I’m going to hit the concrete wall.  I don’t know what angle I’m going to hit the tree.”

 

I know it's early in the 2006 season, but I am hearing that Jon Wood will be in the 21 next year. Is there any truth to this?  And from another fan, Kenny, I heard Mikey (Michael Waltrip on Inside NEXTEL Cup) say that there is already a new driver for #21 next year?  “It is early in the ’06 season and we’re not going to worry about ’07 right now.  Our concern is the next race.  We’ll see what happens.  When I was asked to do this, I was asked to do it for a year.  We feel real confident that John will be in Cup car next year.  We don’t know what car it will be.  The plan is to have two cars, so there is a chance we could be back here.  We’re not worried about that right now.  We’ll just see what happens.”  (Laughing)  “I don’t ever listen to Mikey, and I hope you don’t either.”