Ken Schrader
No. 18 Fastenal Dodge Ram Race Recap
Power Stroke Diesel 200
O’Reilly Raceway Park

Fastenal Driver Ken Schrader once again showed off his short track talents this past weekend in the Power Stroke Diesel 200 at O’Reilly Raceway Park edging past Todd Bodine by inches across the finish line to score his second top five finish of the season. The Fastenal Racing Team unloaded the No. 18 Dodge Ram Friday morning and immediately went to the top of the board where he continued to practice in the top five both sessions. A large rain storm moved into the Indianapolis area just before qualifying forcing NASCAR to cancel and set the field by points according to the NASCAR Rule Book. Schrader started in the 17th position.

The No. 18 Fastenal Dodge Indy Race Recap

Just after the morning practice a massive rain shower set in on the Indianapolis area forcing qualifying to be canceled. The field was set by owner points per the NCTS Rule Book. Schrader started in the 17th position.

Once the race finally got underway it did not take Schrader long to show off the power of his No. 18 Fastenal Dodge. While smoothly working the bottom line of the race track Schrader was able to pass five trucks by lap 30.

The first caution flag waved on lap 32 for an accident in turn one. “It’s a little free, but not bad at all,” said Schrader under the caution. Crew Chief Jeff White made the decision to not pit under the caution. Schrader restarted in the 12th position.

The second caution waved a few laps later. “It is still way to early to pit,” Schrader and White agreed.

On lap 57, while running in the 10th position, Schrader was forced three-wide into the corner. Pulling off a move normally seen at the local dirt track, Schrader not only prevented wrecking the No. 18 Fastenal Dodge, but picked up the ninth position.

By lap 73 he had worked his way into the eighth position. The third caution came out six laps later for a spin in turn four. White called Schrader down pit road for service and no adjustments. The Fastenal Racing Team changed all four tires and added fuel to the Dodge Ram before sending Schrader back onto the track. Unfortunately, when Schrader pulled into his pit stall the truck in front of him forced him to short pit creating last-second confusion. The rear tire changer and tire carrier jumped off the wall only to run into the truck instead of around it. Although they were able to recover quickly, Schrader still lost positions to other teams who only took two tires or fuel only. Schrader restarted in the 15th position.

Over the next several laps Schrader worked his way through traffic gaining at least one position every 10 laps. By the time the sixth caution waved on lap 123 he had raced his way into the ninth position. “Unless something crazy happens we are not going to pit the rest of the night,” said White. Schrader agreed track position was more important than fresh tires.

For the next 50 laps Schrader ran in the seventh position. A late race caution on lap 196 for an accident in turn four set the field up for a green-white-checkered finish. Schrader restarted in seventh on lap 200.

Using his veteran driving skills, Schrader dove to the inside following the restart passing fellow competitors Erik Darnell and inching past Bodine to finish in the top five.

Schrader finished fifth in the Power Stroke Diesel 200. It was the team’s second top five of the season.

Ron Hornaday Jr. won the Power Stroke Diesel 200 before an estimated crowd of 35,000. Johnny Benson, Travis Kvapil, Rick Crawford and Schrader rounded out the top five finishers. The next event for the NCTS will be at Nashville Super Speedway on August 11th with Schrader behind the wheel.