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NASCAR Trucks: Ken Schrader to drive in truck race at California Speedway

21 October 1999

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
CONCORD, N.C. --- NASCAR veteran Ken Schrader will take over driving duties of the No. 52 Ken Schrader Racing / Oakwood Homes Chevrolet when the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series makes their final stop of the season at the California Speedway for the NAPA Auto Parts 200 on October 30, 1999.

"I'm excited about running the truck race at California," said Schrader. "I haven't competed in a truck for some time. I also haven't had much of an opportunity to spend time with the truck team, so I'm looking forward to the weekend."

Schrader competes in more than 90 races a year, which includes the full Winston Cup schedule. The Winston Cup Series has a break in their schedule, so it comes as no surprise that Schrader will spend his weekend off racing.

"I just like to race," adds Schrader. "I don't consider myself a Winston Cup driver. I just consider myself a racer. I take about any opportunity I get to run in all kinds of different series. It's my career, but it is also my hobby."

Racing is a family business for Schrader. Along with his driving career, Schrader and his wife Ann own the No. 52 Oakwood Homes Chevrolet that competes full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. They also spend time promoting I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Mo.

"There is not a day that goes by that racing is not a part of my life," said Schrader. "If I'm not at a track, I'm at my race shop working or involved in racing in some way. It's only natural for me to compete in a truck before the season ends."

Because of his hectic schedule in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, Schrader has only been able to attend three other NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events in 1999 to watch his team compete. He was at Martinsville Speedway, Indianapolis Raceway Park and Richmond International Raceway.

Schrader has three starts at the two-mile California oval, including three starts in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. He also has three starts in the Winston West Series accumulating one pole, two wins and a runner-up finish.

"It's a lot of fun to race at California," said Schrader. "It is a great track that kind of reminds me of Michigan. There is a lot of opportunity to pass with the wide turns, but it is important to stay in the groove or you could easily end up in the wall. It will be exciting racing a truck there."

Oakwood Homes Corporation, founded in 1946, is a fully integrated housing company that manufactures, retails, finances and insures factory-built homes in a 28-state region stretching from coast to coast. Headquartered in Greensboro, N.C., Oakwood Homes is the largest retailer and the third-largest manufacturer in the industry. Oakwood Homes retails its homes through company-owned and independent locations in 49 states. The company operates nearly 360 sales centers, 24 plants and employs more than 10,000 employees nationwide. Oakwood Homes is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol OH.

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