Post by robbiandcoysayles on May 17, 2009 10:43:50 GMT -5
Kenny Schrader will become an Outlaw over Memorial Day Weekend.
The NASCAR veteran is ready to hit the road for a busy holiday swing through the Midwest, hooking up with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series to compete in the ‘Tri-State Late Model Challenge’ that visits tracks in Missouri, Iowa and Wisconsin.
The WoO LMS tripleheader features events on Fri., May 22, at U.S. 36 Raceway in Osborn, Mo.; Sat., May 23, at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa; and Sun., May 24, at Charter Raceway Park in Beaver Dam, Wis. A $10,000 bonus has been posted by SLS Promotions for a driver who can win two of the three A-Mains.
“I’m definitely excited about it,” Schrader said of his upcoming excursion with the Outlaws. “I haven’t run the Late Model that much this year, so I’m looking forward to getting out there and racing it three nights in a row.”
Of course, Schrader, who turns 54 on May 29, realizes he’ll have to quickly get his Federated Auto Parts/Red Baron Frozen Pizza No. 9 in the fast groove if he expects to enjoy any success during the weekend.
“Running three nights at three different places with these (WoO LMS) guys is definitely going to be a challenge,” said Schrader, who maintains an ambitious schedule of dirt Late Model and Modified racing while still appearing in selected NASCAR Sprint Cup, NASCAR Truck Series and ARCA events. “I’ll be racing against the best guys in the country for sure, and that means we better be on top of our game or we’ll get left behind.
“I’m gonna have fun no matter what happens. I’ve always liked running three nights at different tracks because every time you pull through the pit gate it’s a fresh start.”
The swing will mark the first time that Schrader has gone on an extended road trip with the Outlaws. He’s made periodic starts with the WoO LMS since its rebirth in 2004 under the World Racing Group banner – this year he’s entered two tour events, finishing 20th in the Circle K Colossal 100 on March 29 at The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., and failing to qualify on April 17 at Fayetteville (N.C.) Motor Speedway – and he’s friendly with most of the series regulars, but he’s never rolled down the highway with them.
You can bet that Schrader’s hauler will fall in line after each Tri-State Late Model Challenge event with the traveling WoO LMS caravan led by the Mark Richards Racing Enterprises rig, which is normally seen pacing the Darrell Lanigan, Steve Francis and Shannon Babb haulers from race-to-race.
Schrader is especially close with team owner/Rocket Chassis proprietor Mark Richards and Mark’s son Josh Richards, the 21-year-old WoO LMS sensation from Shinnston, W.Va. Schrader will be behind the wheel of a new Rocket car during the swing, and last month Josh made his NASCAR Camping World East Series debut at South Carolina’s Greenville-Pickens Speedway in a Ken Schrader Racing machine.
“Mark and Josh have helped me out a lot with my Late Model stuff,” said Schrader, who has ownership stakes in I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Mo., and Macon (Ill.) Speedway. “In fact, my crew just went up there to Rocket Chassis and Mark and Josh helped them put together a new car that we’ll run next weekend.”
A native of Fenton, Mo., who now makes his home in Concord, N.C., Schrader has never competed at U.S. 36 Raceway and 34 Raceway, which will both host 50-lap events paying $10,000 to win. But he’s very familiar with Charter Raceway Park, a one-third-mile oval that will close the weekend with a 40-lap, $7,000-to-win A-Main.
Schrader experienced one of the most memorable nights of his open-wheel racing career at Charter Raceway Park (then called Beaver Dam Raceway) on July 31, 1982, sweeping a USAC Sprint Car and Midget program. He also won an IMCA Modified feature there on Aug. 8, 2001, and his two UMP DIRTcar-sanctioned Late Model starts at Charter resulted in finishes of third (1998) and sixth (2001).
The weekend of action will also provide Schrader some information and anecdotes to use when he dons a headset to call the WoO LMS races broadcast on the SPEED cable network. This year Schrader is serving as the color commentator for the SPEED telecasts alongside announcer Shane Andrews.
“I enjoy all the TV work I do for SPEED,” said Schrader, who often appears as an analyst on the This Week In NASCAR show. “But I really enjoy doing the Outlaw races. It’s more like the racing I grew up with. I feel like there’s nothing more exciting than dirt-track racing.”
Schrader hopes his first-hand knowledge of the dirt Late Model division will help make SPEED’s WoO LMS broadcasts more interesting for fans.
“I feel like I can bring a driver’s and owner’s perspective to the broadcasts,” said Schrader, who made his debut alongside Andrews when Virginia Motor Speedway’s WoO LMS event was broadcast by SPEED on May 8. “I know what it takes to keep these things going and make them go fast and how talented all these drivers are.
“I had fun in the booth calling the first race (from VMS) with Shane – and from what I’ve found before, if you had fun when you called the race then it probably will come across good to the fans.”
Schrader will participate in an autograph session with WoO LMS drivers prior to each night of racing during the Tri-State Late Model Challenge, which will be run with the UMP DIRTcar Hoosier tire rule (10-20-30-40 compounds) in effect and utilize the same time schedule. Each day gates are scheduled to open at 2 p.m. (pits) and 4 p.m. (grandstands), with hot laps set for 6 p.m., time trials at 6:30 p.m. and racing at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are now on sale for the events. Fans can purchase tickets for all three races in advance by calling SLS Promotions at 815-344-2023 (8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT). Tickets to the 34 Raceway and Charter Raceway Park shows can also be purchased by calling the track offices – 319-752-3434 (34 Raceway) and 920-887-1600 (Charter Raceway Park).
For more information on the Memorial Day Weekend tripleheader, visit www.slspromotions.com, www.us36raceway.com, www.34raceway.com or www.charterraceway.com.
The NASCAR veteran is ready to hit the road for a busy holiday swing through the Midwest, hooking up with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series to compete in the ‘Tri-State Late Model Challenge’ that visits tracks in Missouri, Iowa and Wisconsin.
The WoO LMS tripleheader features events on Fri., May 22, at U.S. 36 Raceway in Osborn, Mo.; Sat., May 23, at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa; and Sun., May 24, at Charter Raceway Park in Beaver Dam, Wis. A $10,000 bonus has been posted by SLS Promotions for a driver who can win two of the three A-Mains.
“I’m definitely excited about it,” Schrader said of his upcoming excursion with the Outlaws. “I haven’t run the Late Model that much this year, so I’m looking forward to getting out there and racing it three nights in a row.”
Of course, Schrader, who turns 54 on May 29, realizes he’ll have to quickly get his Federated Auto Parts/Red Baron Frozen Pizza No. 9 in the fast groove if he expects to enjoy any success during the weekend.
“Running three nights at three different places with these (WoO LMS) guys is definitely going to be a challenge,” said Schrader, who maintains an ambitious schedule of dirt Late Model and Modified racing while still appearing in selected NASCAR Sprint Cup, NASCAR Truck Series and ARCA events. “I’ll be racing against the best guys in the country for sure, and that means we better be on top of our game or we’ll get left behind.
“I’m gonna have fun no matter what happens. I’ve always liked running three nights at different tracks because every time you pull through the pit gate it’s a fresh start.”
The swing will mark the first time that Schrader has gone on an extended road trip with the Outlaws. He’s made periodic starts with the WoO LMS since its rebirth in 2004 under the World Racing Group banner – this year he’s entered two tour events, finishing 20th in the Circle K Colossal 100 on March 29 at The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., and failing to qualify on April 17 at Fayetteville (N.C.) Motor Speedway – and he’s friendly with most of the series regulars, but he’s never rolled down the highway with them.
You can bet that Schrader’s hauler will fall in line after each Tri-State Late Model Challenge event with the traveling WoO LMS caravan led by the Mark Richards Racing Enterprises rig, which is normally seen pacing the Darrell Lanigan, Steve Francis and Shannon Babb haulers from race-to-race.
Schrader is especially close with team owner/Rocket Chassis proprietor Mark Richards and Mark’s son Josh Richards, the 21-year-old WoO LMS sensation from Shinnston, W.Va. Schrader will be behind the wheel of a new Rocket car during the swing, and last month Josh made his NASCAR Camping World East Series debut at South Carolina’s Greenville-Pickens Speedway in a Ken Schrader Racing machine.
“Mark and Josh have helped me out a lot with my Late Model stuff,” said Schrader, who has ownership stakes in I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Mo., and Macon (Ill.) Speedway. “In fact, my crew just went up there to Rocket Chassis and Mark and Josh helped them put together a new car that we’ll run next weekend.”
A native of Fenton, Mo., who now makes his home in Concord, N.C., Schrader has never competed at U.S. 36 Raceway and 34 Raceway, which will both host 50-lap events paying $10,000 to win. But he’s very familiar with Charter Raceway Park, a one-third-mile oval that will close the weekend with a 40-lap, $7,000-to-win A-Main.
Schrader experienced one of the most memorable nights of his open-wheel racing career at Charter Raceway Park (then called Beaver Dam Raceway) on July 31, 1982, sweeping a USAC Sprint Car and Midget program. He also won an IMCA Modified feature there on Aug. 8, 2001, and his two UMP DIRTcar-sanctioned Late Model starts at Charter resulted in finishes of third (1998) and sixth (2001).
The weekend of action will also provide Schrader some information and anecdotes to use when he dons a headset to call the WoO LMS races broadcast on the SPEED cable network. This year Schrader is serving as the color commentator for the SPEED telecasts alongside announcer Shane Andrews.
“I enjoy all the TV work I do for SPEED,” said Schrader, who often appears as an analyst on the This Week In NASCAR show. “But I really enjoy doing the Outlaw races. It’s more like the racing I grew up with. I feel like there’s nothing more exciting than dirt-track racing.”
Schrader hopes his first-hand knowledge of the dirt Late Model division will help make SPEED’s WoO LMS broadcasts more interesting for fans.
“I feel like I can bring a driver’s and owner’s perspective to the broadcasts,” said Schrader, who made his debut alongside Andrews when Virginia Motor Speedway’s WoO LMS event was broadcast by SPEED on May 8. “I know what it takes to keep these things going and make them go fast and how talented all these drivers are.
“I had fun in the booth calling the first race (from VMS) with Shane – and from what I’ve found before, if you had fun when you called the race then it probably will come across good to the fans.”
Schrader will participate in an autograph session with WoO LMS drivers prior to each night of racing during the Tri-State Late Model Challenge, which will be run with the UMP DIRTcar Hoosier tire rule (10-20-30-40 compounds) in effect and utilize the same time schedule. Each day gates are scheduled to open at 2 p.m. (pits) and 4 p.m. (grandstands), with hot laps set for 6 p.m., time trials at 6:30 p.m. and racing at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are now on sale for the events. Fans can purchase tickets for all three races in advance by calling SLS Promotions at 815-344-2023 (8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT). Tickets to the 34 Raceway and Charter Raceway Park shows can also be purchased by calling the track offices – 319-752-3434 (34 Raceway) and 920-887-1600 (Charter Raceway Park).
For more information on the Memorial Day Weekend tripleheader, visit www.slspromotions.com, www.us36raceway.com, www.34raceway.com or www.charterraceway.com.
