Schrader Chronicle #10 - Late Gamble Doesn't Pay
By Steve Stakem
May 9, 2005

(This column covers Nextel Cup Driver Ken Schrader over his final season, or two, on NASCAR's biggest circuit.)

Darlington, SC - Ken Schrader and crew chief David Hyder gambled late at Darlington Raceway, but the decision didn't pay off as well as the 49 Schwan's Home Service Team would have liked.

Charging from the 28th starting position and racing quickly into the top-20 it seemed as if Schrader was in for another excellent run. However, as dusk turned to nightfall, the 49 like so many other cars, began experiencing handling woes with a way-loose race car.

A determined Greg Biffle had the car to beat all night as he went on to lead 176 of 370 laps en route to his third victory of the 2005 season. A lightning-fast race car helped Biffle put half the field a lap down by midway and Schrader was one of the victims.

All the while, the Schwan's team never gave up and got the car adjusted to Schrader's liking, but time and track position bit them in the end. A late attempt to stay out didn't pay off and cars with fresher tires rolled by Schrader to stick him with an 18th place finish after the final green-flag run. Schrader stayed 29th in points but is less than 100 out of 20th.

"We gambled at the end and stayed out," said Schrader. "If the #2 (car) and the #29 (which wrecked crossing the finish line) had gotten together two laps earlier, then we would have finished in the top five. But, that’s why it’s called a gamble.

"I’m proud of these guys in the pits. We had some things not go our way, but these guys never quit. They kept getting the car better and better and it seemed like we’d never get our lap back. But, fortunately we did and we were able to pick up some spots because of it."

On to Richmond With Momentum

The BAM Racing 49 is running as strong as a single-car team can these days and is ready for some solid top-10 finishes to move back into contention for the Chase. Headed to Richmond, VA for this weekend's Chevy American Revolution 400, Schrader is poised and ready.

"For most of us, there's nothing better than Saturday night short-track racing. It's what a lot of us grew up doing so, it's nice to get that feeling when we strap into the car on Saturday night. The lights are on, the stands are full, I don't care how many times you do it, that feeling's pretty cool. We'll definitely get our fill of night racing in May. First at Darlington, now at Richmond, then we head to Charlotte for two more weeks of night racing. If you're a fan of racing under the lights, you're loving the month of May.

"This is a pretty exciting month for the entire Schwan's Home Service team. Obviously, running well makes it a lot more fun, and we've been more competitive over the past few weeks, really all season, than we have been before. The Schwan's pit crew will have its chance to shine with a couple of pit crew competitions that we're participating in here in the next few weeks. That's pretty neat for those guys, because they're such an important part of how we do on race day, but a lot of times they don't get the recognition that they deserve.

"If everything goes according to plan, come June we'll all feel pretty good about what we have accomplished with this Schwan's Home Service team; driver, crew, sponsors and owners, everybody working together. It's definitely an exciting time of the year and I can't think of a better place to be racing on Saturday night than at Richmond."

2005 Dodge Charger 500 Results
1. Greg Biffle, National Guard/Travelodge Ford $300,575
2. Jeff Gordon, Dupont Chevrolet, $221,986
3. Kasey Kahne, Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge, $190,500
4. Mark Martin, Viagra Ford, $136,350
5. Ryan Newman, ALLTEL Dodge, $161,216
18. Ken Schrader, Schwan's Home Service Dodge, $77,650