At an age when most toddlers were spending their afternoons watching a big yellow bird on television, learning their ABC’s or how to tie their shoes, Ken Schrader, was in his backyard racing around in circles on a go-kart strapped to a post. For Schrader, it was him simply doing what was normal – and what was fun. Driving, racing, and winning; this is what Schrader has been doing since his feet could push down pedals. A student of auto racing since the age of three, over the last 19 years of professional racing Schrader has now become a professor of the only sport he knows and loves.
The past 19 years of Schrader’s career reads like an encyclopedia of racing’s history, one that many of today’s young drivers should study. Growing up in the rural Midwest Schrader knew the likes of famous racing names such as Foyt, Unser, and Andretti, but he didn’t grow up with any doors open because of his family background. Instead Schrader leaned on his own passion, drive, and desire to be the best driver he could be. His s road to the major league levels of NASCAR racing sounds so familiar to that of today’s stars Tony Stewart, Ryan Newman, and now Kasey Kahne. But, it was Schrader who built the mold of taking open wheel successes and transitioning them into stock car supremacy.
Like so many others in the states of Missouri, Indiana, Ohio, and Iowa, Schrader began his professional racing career in the open wheel ranks of midgets and sprint car racing. The Midwest is the mecca of sprint car racing, and the best drivers of all time have raced on the nation’s most famous tracks in this area. The United States Auto Club (USAC) sanctions racing on most of these tracks, and Schrader took advantage of a national platform to compete and win against the very best. It wasn’t only being fast that was impressing the racing world, but it was Schrader’s uncanny ability to race anything, anytime, on any surface - and win doing it. It didn’t matter if the track was dirt, asphalt, banked, or flat, Schrader’s collection of victories was soaring throughout the open wheel world. On any given night, Schrader was taking another checkered flag and the wins accumulated to two national championships in USAC competition. Schrader won the 1982 USAC Silver Crown championship and in 1983 was crowned the USAC Sprint Car champion.
His name next to a list of champions such as Foyt, Unser, and other open wheel kings, Schrader made a move that changed the way the perception of racing is seen today. In a day when open wheel racers gave great sacrifice to win the Indianapolis 500, it was Schrader who decided to follow a different direction and venture into the world of stock car racing. It was almost unheard of to see an open wheel ace drive a full-bodied stock car, and only the greatest drivers of all time had done it with success. Schrader, however, was a born racer and wasn’t afraid to cut his own path.
In 1984, the legendary Elmo Langley rented Schrader his first stock car for NASCAR major league competition at the Nashville Speedway (Tenn.). Schrader, from his years of experience in other forms of competition, was able to conserve the car and bring it home in “one piece” at the end of the day. That start impressed Langley enough to give Schrader four more starts in his equipment where he posted a best 17th-place finish at the North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway. The following year another legend of the sport, Junie Donlavey, offered Schrader his first full-time ride on the Cup series. The next three seasons Schrader used his ability to conserve his car, be patient, and demonstrate his awesome driving skill to give Donlavey some of his best results ever as a car owner. The duo never combined for a victory, but collected 17 top-10s, Schrader’s first-career pole (Darlington, S.C.), and a highest finish of 10th in the championship chase at the end of the 1987 season.
The skills of Schrader were starting to shine brightly, and at the time, a car owner by the name of Rick Hendrick was looking for a driver who could take him to victory lane. The start of the 1988 season, Hendrick and Schrader formed a relationship that lasted nine seasons - a rarity in today’s ever-changing sport. The duo became one of the most potent combinations in NASCAR throughout the late 80’s and early 90’s. Schrader won his first race in 1988 at the Talladega Superspeedway (Ala.) and won his first of three consecutive (1988-1990) Daytona 500 poles. He had made his mark in full-bodied stock cars, proving that an open wheel background could lead to a successful Cup career.
Throughout his tenure at Hendrick Motorsports, Schrader accumulated a total of four wins, 58 top-fives, 127 top-10s, and 17 poles. Schrader was a consistent top-10 championship finisher, ending the 1994 season in fourth. As the decade wound down, Schrader was asked by colleague, and friend, Andy Petree to drive for a team that Petree was building. Schrader agreed and the new team was met with gradual success throughout the next three seasons. Schrader eventually moved on to MB2 Motorsports and lent his experiences and skill to the forming team. Now a veteran of NASCAR racing, Schrader leads the way for the up-and coming Schwan’s Home Service Dodge team. A team with tremendous support from its owners, expertise from its talented mangers, and growing popularity, Schrader fits in perfectly as the winning driver.
Away from the busy schedule of the NASCAR Cup series, Schrader still remembers his roots. He consistently races anything, anytime, anywhere, out his own race shop, Ken Schrader Racing (KSR). Ken Schrader Racing was founded by Schrader in 1987 to occupy his free time with what he loves to do most of, more racing. The owner of a Craftsman Truck series team and a dirt late model, Schrader also owns I-55 Raceway in his hometown of Pevely, Mo. Through KSR, Schrader has been able to win in all forms of racing and is able to consistently compete in 80-plus race events on a yearly basis. Schrader is one of only a handful of drivers to have won in all three of NASCAR’s top divisions. A successful owner, driver, and promoter, Schrader still takes time to give back to his community. Quiet in his charitable efforts, Schrader takes time out of an already packed schedule to donate his time to good causes.
Schrader is a long-time favorite of fans from all aspects of motorsports. He is admired by so many in the racing world for his unique approach to his career and to his lifestyle. A born racer, Schrader truly is a racers’ racer, and will continue to be as long as there are pedals below his feet.
In 2007, Schrader only raced 13 of 36 Cup Series races. He was ranked 48th in the Cup Championship point standings with 932 points; however, Schrader's overall career statistics show how remarkable his Cup Series racing career has been. Going into the 2008 Cup season, Schrader's career stats total four wins, 64 top-fives, 184 top-10s out of 717 starts. He has an average finish of 19.8.
