Ken Schrader
2008 Rides: No. 49 BAM Racing Dodge/Toyota (three races), No. 70 Haas CNC Racing Chevrolet (one race), No. 40 Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge (one race), No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet (one race), No. 96 Hall of Fame Toyota (10 races)
2008 Primary Sponsors: QTrax.com/Microsoft Small Business (No. 49), Hunt Brothers Pizza (No. 70), Kennametal (No. 40), Camping World (No. 33), DLP HDTV (No. 96)
2008 Owners: Beth Ann Morgenthau (No. 49), Joe Custer/Gene Haas (No. 70), Chip Ganassi (No. 40), Richard Childress (No. 33), Jeff Moorad/Tom Garfinkel (No. 96)
2008 Crew Chiefs: David Hyder (No. 49), Dave Skog (No. 70), Steve Lane (No. 40), Shane Wilson (No. 33), Steve Boyer (No. 96)
2008 Stats: 15 starts, 0 wins, 0 top fives, 0 top 10s, 0 poles, 43rd in points
High Point: Talladega was the site of Ken Schrader’s main highlight in what was a very inauspicious year. Driving for Hall of Fame Racing during the fall event, he was able to come home in 16th – his only finish higher than 20th all season.
Low Point: Schrader had five races this season where he failed to qualify, but by far the biggest disappointment was failing to make the Daytona 500. Schrader has always been known as a good plate racer, and missing out on the biggest event of the season was definitely a low point – especially since he once won the pole three straight times for the Great American Race.
Summary: Schrader’s season was marked by seat time for four different teams. He began the year by reuniting with BAM Racing, a team he drove for in 2003-05 with modest success. But after sponsorship left to run with Michael Waltrip Racing, the organization suspended operations – forcing him to look for other rides.
From that point on, Schrader was a “super sub” for Cup teams in need. He ran the first Talladega race for Haas CNC, then attempted but failed to make the spring Richmond race for Ganassi. Schrader then ran the Coca-Cola 600 for Richard Childress Racing, then was shut out for the summer before finally landing at Hall of Fame Racing to finish out the year. Schrader ran 10 races for the No. 96, failing to qualify for an 11th for Hall of Fame.
Off-Track News: Schrader continues to be one of the hardest working men in auto racing. He runs around 100 races per season on short tracks throughout the country, and still wants to run a race in all 50 states. The last one on the list is Rhode Island; and while it doesn’t officially have a NASCAR-sanctioned facility, there is a track that is privately held that runs races from time to time. Supposedly, Schrader is going to make an appearance there to complete his longtime quest during 2009.
2009 Outlook: At this point, Schrader has not made any announcements about racing in the Cup Series this season, although he remains a candidate to drive the No. 96 Hall of Fame car if it does return. If not, he will certainly make a few starts for some teams who are in need of a veteran’s feedback, and will likely run a handful of Truck Series races – either for his own organization or for someone who has a seat available.
No matter what, Schrader will run a handful of ARCA races and be found throughout the country at local short tracks, where he will once again run somewhere in the neighborhood of 100 races this year.
2006 Frontstretch Grade: C-
2007 Grade: D-
2008 Grade: D
About the author
What is it that Mike Neff doesn’t do? The writer, radio contributor and racetrack announcer coordinates the site’s local short track coverage, hitting up Saturday Night Specials across the country while tracking the sport’s future racing stars. The writer for our signature Cup post-race column, Thinkin’ Out Loud (Mondays) also sits down with Cup crew chiefs to talk shop every Friday with Tech Talk. Mike announces several shows each year for the Good Guys Rod and Custom Association. He also pops up everywhere from PRN Pit Reporters and the Press Box with Alan Smothers to SIRIUS XM Radio. He has announced at tracks all over the Southeast, starting at Millbridge Speedway. He's also announced at East Lincoln Speedway, Concord Speedway, Tri-County Speedway, Caraway Speedway, and Charlotte Motor Speedway.
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