BLOWN TIRE PRODUCES 42ND PLACE FINISH

FOR SCHRADER AT TEXAS;

STILL 31ST IN POINT STANDINGS

 

Ken Schrader’s race at Texas Motor Speedway came to an abrupt halt just past the half-way point when his right front tire blew sending him into the wall, and then back across the track into the grass on the front straightaway.

 

Ken was able to drive his Little Debbie Ford into the garage, but his Wood Brothers crew soon discovered they would not be able to repair the car sufficiently to return it to competition.

 

Reporters asked Schrader what had happened, and he replied:  "We don't know.  We think maybe a brake hose came loose and got between the tire and the fender and it broke the tire.  The tire wear was phenomenal all day and they were doing a good job.  I was just looking at it and something caused the tire to go down.  We're thinking maybe a brake hose did. 

 

"The car was good.  We got up to where we could hang around 20th or so and we had just got it the best it had been, so we were just making adjustments and getting ready for the long run.

 

“And our pit crew was doing a great job.  They were gaining spots in the pits on every stop.”

 

On the team’s first stop the crew picked up one spot; on the second they gained two places, and the third stop was good for three.  Schrader had just pitted for the fourth time before the accident.  There were only four green flag laps on the tires when the tire blew.

 

Qualifying went well on Friday.  Schrader was 31st on the Friday practice speed chart, and his qualifying effort was good for 18th on the Dickies 500 starting grid.  Ken told the media, "We went out there and had run a .43, so we picked up and even though a lot of guys picked up, I'm happy.  The track is better.  They tightened up the car.  I wanted it a little bit tighter and they did that, so it was a good lap." 

 

Tony Stewart dominated the race, and won on a green, white, checkered finish over Jimmie Johnson.  Kevin Harvick was third.

 

Schrader’s bad fortune at Texas did not extend to the point standings as he stayed 31st going into the next to the last event of the year.  However, every single position changed in the top-ten as a result of Sunday’s race at Texas.  Jimmie Johnson is the new point leader by 17 points over Matt Kenseth.

 

Next Sunday the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series will be in Phoenix, Arizona for the 

Checker Auto Parts 500.  NBC will television the race live from Phoenix International Raceway.  Coverage will begin at 3:00 p.m. EDT.  The 500k event at the one-mile desert oval will also be carried over the Motor Racing Network of radio affiliates.

 

 

 

Texas Results:

1. Tony Stewart
2. Jimmie Johnson
3. Kevin Harvick
4. Kyle Busch
5. Clint Bowyer
6. Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
7. Casey Mears
8. Jeff Gordon
9. Kurt Busch
10. Denny Hamlin

   42.  Ken Schrader

 

Points after Texas

1. Jimmie Johnson                       6157      +1
2. Matt Kenseth                         6140      -1
3. Dale Earnhardt, Jr.    6079      +1
4. Denny Hamlin                         6077      -1
5. Kevin Harvick                        6052      +1
6. Jeff Gordon                            6004      +1
7. Jeff Burton                  5973      -2
8. Kyle Busch                 5924      +2
9. Mark Martin                           5904      -1
10. Kasey Kahne                         5867      -1
11. Tony Stewart                          4488      0

   31.  Ken Schrader                       2882      0