NASCAR WCUP: Ken Schrader feels at home in Chicagoland
Posted By Terry CallahanMotorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
July 11, 2001
"Some of these guys have never run anywhere near Chicago, but it feels almost like racing at home for me. I grew up practically next door in St. Louis, but I've raced all over the Midwest, mostly on dirt. Of all the extra races I run, almost all of them are on dirt tracks in the Midwest."--Ken Schrader
"Of course this is going to be a lot different than a dirt race, but I'm excited about the new track. We didn't get the chance to test at Chicago, but I think we'll learn a lot during Thursday's practice session and we'll be just fine. I've heard really good things about, but I'm anxious to see it for myself. I've raced all over Illinois in all sorts of cars, but it is going to be pretty neat to run a Winston Cup race there. Midwesterners are some of the best fans there are, so I know there is going to be a great turnout.
Schrader's Chicagoland Highlights...
Ken Schrader has never driven the No. 36 "M&M's"® Pontiac in the state of Illinois, but the Missouri native has logged more than his fair share of laps in the "Prairie State." In fact, Schrader ran three races in Illinois during the month of June. Some of Schrader's favorite romps around Illinois are the dirt tracks of Quincy, DuQuion and Farmers City.
Newt Moore and the "M&M's"® Racing Team prepared a new car for the Winston Cup debut at Chicagoland Speedway.
The Schraders enjoyed their annual float trip to celebrate the Fourth of July on Sunday, July 8. Numerous Schrader family and friends in the St. Louis area meet each year on the Sunday following the Daytona race to canoe and relax. This year the float trip is the last breath of refreshment before the grinding 20-race stretch on the Winston Cup circuit.
Text provided by Laura Ehret
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