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NASCAR Featherlite Southwestern Tour: Skoal Bandit Racing Copper World Classic

2 February 1998


PHOENIX, Ariz. -- Ken Schrader knew he had a problem, but he
adopted a very simple philosophy and won the NASCAR Featherlite
Southwest Tour race at Phoenix International Raceway.
     Schrader was leading the NFSWT portion of the Skoal Bandit
Racing Copper World Classic when he noticed his Chevrolet was
starting to overheat. He decided to just keep going and eventually
won the race.
     ``Don't know,'' he said when asked how much water the engine
had left at the end of the race. ``Didn't care.''
     Schrader, the Winston Cup veteran, beat NASCAR Craftsman Truck
Series star Rick Carelli by .8 of a second. John Metcalf, Aurora,
Colo., finished third, Ron Eaton, Tacoma, Wash., was fourth and
M.K. Kanke, Granada Hils, Calif., came home fifth.
     The first four finishers drove Chevrolets, while Kanke drove
a Pontiac.
     Schrader won $11,906 while winning his fourth career NFSWT
race. He drove the same Chevrolet Scott Hansen drove to victory in
an NFSWT event at PIR in October.
     ``I had Scott Hansen for a crew chief today,'' Schrader said.
``That was the difference. He just knows these little cars.''
     Carelli said, ``Kenny was just better than me today. I was
just way too loose.''
     Schrader left every lap after passing pole sitter Craig
Raudman on the 14th circuit of the 50-lap race. Raudman eventually
finished 33rd after crashing on the 29th lap.
     Two caution periods slowed the field during the remaining
portion of the race, but neither Carelli nor Metcalf could
capitalize.
     ``Maybe, on a long run, I might have been able to do
something,'' said Metcalf. ``I'm just happy to be able to run
behind a Winston Cup guy and a NASCAR Craftsman Truck guy.''
     Kanke's finish gave him the NFSWT points lead two races into
the season. He has 325 counters. Ron Eaton, the NASCAR REB-CO
Northwest Tour veteran, is second with 306. Metcalf is third with
292.
 
 
 Skoal Bandit Racing Copper World Classic
NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Tour
Phoenix International Raceway, Feb. 1, 1998

  1.  (2) Ken Schrader, Fenton, MO, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 50, 126.939 mph
  2.  (7) Rick Carelli, Arvada, CO, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 50
  3.  (4) John Metcalf, Aurora, Colo. , Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 50
  4. (14) Ron Eaton, Tacoma, WA, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 50
  5.  (3) M.K. Kanke, Granada Hills, CA, Pontiac Grand Prix, 50
  6.  (8) Kurt Busch, Las Vegas, Nev., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 50
  7.  (9) Steve Portenga, Sparks, Nev., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 50
  8.  (6) John Dillon, Boise, ID, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 50
  9. (20) Jim Inglebright, Fairfield, CA, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 50
 10. (10) Frank Adamo, Bakersfield, CA, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 50
 11. (22) Matt Crafton, Tulare, CA , Ford Thunderbird, 50
 12. (12) Mark Reed, Bakersfield CA, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 50
 13. (19) Freddie Query, Mooresville, NC, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 50
 14. (11) Tony Toste, Pismo Beach, CA , Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 50
 15. (16) Darrell La Moure, Glendale, AZ, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 50
 16.  (5) Kenny Shepherd, Merced, CA, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 50
 17. (27) Michael Alsup, Bakersfield, CA, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 50
 18. (15) Sean Monroe, Malibu, CA, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 50
 19. (18) Dennis Dyer, Palmdale, CA, Pontiac Grand Prix, 50
 20. (17) Rick Allison, Mesa, WA, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 50
 21. (28) Bruce Yackey, Greeley, CO, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 50
 22. (24) Jason Fensler, Wilton,  CA, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 50
 23. (36) Mike Brumit, Aromas, CA, Pontiac Grand Prix, 50
 24. (35) Matt Hagans, Indianapolis, IN, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 50
 25. (34) Keith Spangler, Chatsworth, CA, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 50
 26. (25) Frank Maronski Jr, Quartz Hill, CA, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 50
 27. (21) Aaron Newport, Benton City, WA, Pontiac Grand Prix, 50
 28. (59) Bryan Germone, Windsor, CA, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 50
 29. (41) Tom Hubert, Mooresville, NC, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 50
 30. (13) Doug McCoun, Prunedale, CA, Pontiac Grand Prix, 47
 31. (44) Bill Lawrence, Canada, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 47
 32. (31) Butch Gilliland, Anaheim, CA, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 44, engine
 33.  (1) Craig Raudman, Redding, CA, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 40, accident
 34. (40) Pat Patterson, Toluca Lake, CA, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 29, rear end
 35. (37) Bob Lyon, Agua Dulce, CA, Pontiac Grand Prix, 26, suspention
 36. (26) Ray Skillman, Greenwood, IN, Ford Thunderbird, 24, engine
 37. (30) Patrick Lawler, Colleyville, TX, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 11,engine
 38. (23) Dennis Schlundt, Fresno CA , Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 9, accident
 39. (32) Mike Snow, Littleton, CO, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 2, accident
 40. (29) John O'Neal, Kansas City, KS, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 0, withdrawn

 Margin of victory: .8 seconds
 Average speed: 126.939 mph
 Cautions: 0 laps
 Lead changes: One among two drivers (Raudman 1-14, Schrader 15-50).
 Bud Pole Award: Raudman, 27.546 seconds (130.690 mph)