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NASCAR WCUP: Ken Schrader on Talladega; 'Ride around 'till something happens'

12 October 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
"Talladega is totally different from all the other tracks where we race because you strap yourself in and then ride around until something happens. When you are racing at Talladega, you know something big is going to happen. The only DNF we have this year was at Talladega in April when we killed our car in the 'big wreck'. A great deal has happened there over my career, but of course my best memory was my first Winston Cup win back in 1988. I've loved going to Talladega ever since that first victory."--Ken Schrader

Ken Schrader Information...

* The No. 36 "M&M's" Pontiac that will compete this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway will make only its second start this season. This particular car has only one other start this season that resulted in a ninth-place finish in the Daytona 500. If the car's performance in February was any indication of what the car is capable of the "M&M's" Racing Team is up for a top-10 finish.

* Even though there have been numerous rules changes heading into the series' final stop on the ultra-fast superspeedways for 2000, "M&M's" Racing Team driver Ken Schrader is again a favorite for the weekend, especially during qualifying. Schrader has qualified in the top 10 for five of the last six races at Talladega including two pole positions. He won the pole position in the fall of 1998 and the spring of 1999.

* Schrader is one of only a handful of drivers who have only one DNF in 2000 and Talladega was the culprit that ruined Schrader's and the "M&M's" Racing Team's perfect record. The 'big wreck' that occurred on lap 137 kept Schrader from finishing the event due to extensive damage to his "M&M's" Pontiac.

* Talladega has a special place in the heart of the veteran from St. Louis. In only his 108th career Winston Cup start, Schrader started from the seventh position and went on to make his first of four visits to victory lane.

Text Provided By Laura Ehret

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