---

NASCAR WCUP: Ken Schrader ready for the flat track at New Hampshire

15 September 1999

"Loudon is one of those tracks that you're not sure what you're getting into until you actually get there," said Schrader. "The speedway put a sealant down and that changes the track conditions a lot. Since they just put the sealant down and no cars have run on it, the track will be real slippery.

"The preferred groove is on the bottom of the track, but eventually the upper groove will come into play later in the race. The challenge is trying to get your car to stick to the bottom of the track for 300 miles."

Schrader has qualified in the top 10 in eight of the nine races at New Hampshire International Speedway. Schrader's 26th starting position in last year's Jiffy Lube 300 came after being disqualified for lead falling out of the Skoal Racing Monte Carlo during his qualifying run. His time of 29.768 seconds posted in second-round qualifying would have been fast enough for the outside pole.

CREW CHIEF SHOP TALK:

"We're taking a brand new car this weekend," said Sam Johns, crew chief for the Skoal Racing team. "We tested this car at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in July and felt like it was a great flat track car. Schrader really liked the car and the way it drove.

"We ran in the top five in July until we got caught up in a mess. Schrader was running fifth, but on a restart he got mired in traffic with lapped cars. Johnny Benson ran into us and we ran into someone else. We had to come to pit road and put a new radiator and oil cooler on the car. We lost 11 laps to the leader while we worked on the car. I think we can definitely improve on that finish this week."

SKOAL RACING TEAM NEWS:

Schrader departed Richmond International Raceway and headed for Salem (Ind.) Speedway to compete in the ARCA event Sunday, which he won.

Editors Note: For hundreds of hot racing photos and racing art, be sure to visit The Racing ImageGalleries and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.