Fenton, Missouri gentleman can end up being a star, just like Ken Schrader.
The 58-year-old Schrader will end his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career driving the No. 32 this weekend at Homestead Miami Speedway. Schrader began his career racing at Nashville Speedway in 1984 where he qualified 28th and concluded the race in 19th. Schrader most likely expected racing to stay a hobby after that event, I doubt he thought it become an entire life for him until 2013.
Saying Schrader only had four wins wouldn’t even depict his career in the slightest. His 29 years in the NSCS saw him snatch 184 top 10 finishes including five poles.
Rick Hendrick signed Schrader to a full-time NSCS ride in 1988 driving the No. 25 Folgers Chevrolet. Just his first event with the team, The Daytona 500, Schrader posted his second career pole at the famed Daytona International Speedway. After failing to qualify for the next event, Schrader purchased a car from Buddy Arrington and he took it to victory lane at Talladega Superspeedway for his first career big-time victory.
Hendrick provided for Schrader until 1996 where they parted ways sending Schrader to Andy Petree Racing. That wasn’t the wisest of decisions in Schrader’s career as he posted his best finish in the driver standings of fourth with Hendrick and that ended up being his finish in the standings.
Nevertheless, Schrader continued on throughout his NSCS career posting three more wins including one at Charlotte Motor Speedway and his final two were both at Dover International Speedway.
Arguably a noticeable point in Schrader’s career was at Daytona during the 2001 season when Dale Earnhardt was sent into the wall and eventually died. Schrader was the first person to reach Earnhardt’s car and then frantically signaled for medical attention.
Fast forwarding to 2013, Schrader set a record in August when he scored a pole in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at Eldora Speedway becoming the oldest pole sitter in NASCAR’s top three series history. He also became the oldest ARCA Racing Series winner in 2013 as well.
Throughout 2013 Schrader’s driven the No. 32 FAS Lane Racing entry part-time, posting a season best finish of 27th at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Leaving the sport of NASCAR obviously will be a downfall for NASCAR fans. Although, Schrader won’t be forgotten by many drivers and fans, for the comfort he welcomed off the track and the integrity he possessed on the track.
“Circle, circle, circle. I guess you could say I’ve been dizzy ever since.” –Ken Schrader
