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NASCAR WCUP: Ken Schrader looks forward to return trip at Daytona

29 June 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Ken Schrader Said...

"We left the Daytona 500 pretty pleased with how we performed, so we hope our return trip goes just as well. Anytime you can leave a race track with two top-10 finishes like we did in February, you can call the weekend a success. That was my first race with the team as well as Sammy's and it just solidified my confidence in our speedway program. We had two really strong weeks in Daytona and earned both of those finishes. We're taking our Shootout car for the Pepsi 400 so if it this "M&M's" Pontiac runs as strong for 400 miles as it did for 62, then we'll be in great shape. "

Ken Schrader's Stats...

* The last trip to Daytona International Speedway by the "M&M's" Racing Team resulted in their best finish to date in the 2000 season. Going to the 2.5-mile superspeedway with both a new driver and new crew chief, the "M&M's" Pontiac finished ninth in the Daytona 500 and sixth in the Bud Shootout.

* The No. 36 "M&M's" Pontiac that the team is running in the Pepsi 400 is the same car that finished sixth in the Bud Shootout. Schrader drafted into the fifth position on the second lap and never got outside the top five until the final corner of the final lap. One car got airborne and when Schrader crossed the finish line in sixth position, he did it with the "M&M's" Pontiac in reverse.

* Throughout his career, "M&M's" Racing Team driver Ken Schrader has a better finishing record at Daytona during the Independence Day weekend than he does for the season kickoff in February. Schrader has 10 top-10 finishes in 15 summertime attempts as well as four top-fives.

* Red, the famous "M" Spokescandy, has finally convinced the people at M&M/MARS that he doesn't want to be called Plain anymore. As a result, the No. 1 candy brand in the world will now be known as "M&M's" Milk Chocolate Candies and a special red, white and blue paint scheme at the Pepsi 400 celebrates the candy's "Same Great Taste, Much Better Name".

In support, Schrader spent a day with Red doing television interviews on June 26, the Monday following the race in Sears Point. Through the technology of real-time animation, Schrader and Red interacted with different media outlets as well as each other on screen.

Text provided by Laura Ehret

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.