Ken Schrader
No. 18 Fastenal Dodge Ram Race Recap
O’Reilly 200
Bristol Motor Speedway

The No. 18 Fastenal Dodge Racing team had high hopes heading into the O’Reilly 200 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway. In the past three short track starts Schrader has scored two top five finishes. Unfortunately that would not happen this time around, an extremely tight race truck on the newly paved short track resulted in an 18th place finish. Schrader qualified the Fastenal Dodge in 17th position on Wednesday afternoon and climbed as high as 12th place before the tight condition mired him in the back.

The No. 18 Fastenal Dodge Bristol Race Recap

Schrader qualified the No. 18 Fastenal Dodge in the 17th position on Wednesday afternoon.

On lap 33 Schrader radioed in, “I’m extremely tight in and loose off.” Crew Chief Jeff White assured him they would fix it on the next pit stop. Two laps later the second caution waved for an accident on the front stretch.

The Fastenal Racing team went straight to work changing only two tires, adding fuel, put one round of wedge in the right front, took one round of wedge out of the left rear and went down three rounds on the track bar to help the tight and loose conditions. He restarted 12th on lap 45.

By lap 60 Schrader had dropped to 17th position. “I am still tight,” said Schrader.

Thankfully, the caution waved on lap 105 for oil on the track. The Fastenal Dodge came down pit road for four fresh tires, Sunoco fuel and another round of wedge and track bar adjustments. He restarted in the 19th position.

On lap 130 he had worked his way into the 17th spot, but began to fall back several laps later.

Once again the caution waved at the perfect time on lap 160 for debris. “We have to pit,” said Schrader. “I am tight off and then loose.” The Fastenal Racing team added more wedge to Schrader’s Dodge Ram and sent him on his way. He restarted in the 18th position.

The final caution waved on lap 190 for a multi-truck wreck. NASCAR red flagged the race two laps later to clean up the debris on the track. The race restarted with four laps to go.

Schrader finished the O’Reilly 200 in the 18th position.

Johnny Benson won the O’Reilly 200 before an estimated crowd of 65,000. Brendan Gaughan, Mark Martin, Mike Skinner and Rick Crawford rounded out the top five finishers. The next event for the NCTS will be at Gateway (Ill.) International Raceway on September 1st with Schrader behind the wheel.