Ken Schrader Bio
Kenneth William Schrader, born on May 29, 1955, is an American professional racing driver with a career that has spanned more than four decades across NASCAR, USAC, ARCA, and short-track racing. Currently, he competes on local dirt and asphalt tracks around the country and has also run part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 11 Ford for Fast Track Racing. Over the years, he has built a reputation as a versatile, hard-nosed racer who has succeeded in nearly every type of car he has piloted. He is a first cousin once removed of fellow NASCAR driver Carl Edwards.
Early Life and Background
Kenneth William Schrader was born in Fenton, Missouri, and grew up surrounded by the racing culture of the American Midwest. He began his competitive career in 1971 as the sportsmens champion at Lake Hill Speedway in Valley Park, Missouri. That same year, he moved up to sprint cars, racing at various Midwest venues and laying the foundation for a lifetime in motorsports. His early success on short tracks helped him develop the dirt-track skills that would later become a defining part of his identity as a driver.
By the start of the 1980s, Schrader was competing in the United States Auto Club’s Stock Car Division, where he was named series Rookie of the Year in 1980. He returned the following season to finish third in points. Schrader also ventured into USAC’s sprint car, Silver Crown, and midget divisions, winning four USAC sprint car races, six Silver Crown races, and 21 USAC midget events. In 1983, he attempted to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 but wrecked his car during practice, an early setback that pushed him toward the NASCAR ladder.
Path to NASCAR
Schrader made his NASCAR debut in 1984 in the Winston Cup Series, leasing the No. 64 Ford normally owned and driven by Elmo Langley. He ran his first race at Nashville, qualifying 27th and finishing 19th in a 30-car field, and ran four additional races that season, with a best finish of 17th at North Wilkesboro Speedway. The following year, he signed a full-time deal with Junie Donlavey to drive the No. 90 Ultra Seal-sponsored Ford, posting three tenth-place finishes and finishing 16th in points. That performance earned him the 1985 Winston Cup Series Rookie of the Year award.
In 1986, Red Baron Frozen Pizza became the team’s new primary sponsor, and Schrader recorded four top-tens, including a best finish of seventh on two occasions. The 1987 season was a breakthrough, as he captured his first career pole at the TranSouth 500, led 19 laps, and finished fifth for his first top-five. He also made his Busch Series debut that year at North Carolina Speedway, finishing fifth in his own No. 45 Red Baron-sponsored Ford. Those results positioned him for a move to one of NASCAR’s premier teams.
Ken Schrader Career
Early Career (1984–1987)
Ken Schrader’s early NASCAR years were spent building experience with smaller teams. Driving for Junie Donlavey in the No. 90 Ford from 1985 through 1987, he developed into a reliable competitor and earned the respect of the garage. His three top-ten finishes in his first full season and his first career pole in 1987 signaled his potential as a future contender in the Winston Cup Series.
He also branched out into the Busch Series, making his debut in 1987. Those formative years allowed Schrader to hone his race craft, build relationships with crew members, and adapt to the demands of NASCAR’s top touring divisions. By the end of 1987, he had proven he was ready for a top-tier ride.
Hendrick Motorsports Era (1988–1996)
In 1988, Ken Schrader moved to Hendrick Motorsports, taking over the No. 25 Folgers-sponsored Chevrolet. He immediately won the pole for the Daytona 500, launching a remarkable three-year streak of capturing the Daytona 500 pole. Later that season, he scored his first career Winston Cup Series victory at the Talladega DieHard 500 and finished fifth in the final standings. He earned his second career Cup win the following season at Charlotte Motor Speedway, again finishing fifth in points, and added his first Busch Series victory at the Ames/Peak 200.
As Kodiak came on board as his sponsor in 1990, Schrader collected three poles and seven top-fives. In 1991, he added two more wins, at the Motorcraft Quality Parts 500 and at Dover International Speedway, with his Dover victory standing as his final Winston Cup win. He posted a career-high six poles in 1993 and reached his career-best points finish of fourth in 1994, the same year he won his most recent Busch Series race at Talladega. He also won his final pole with Hendrick at Pocono Raceway in 1995, the year he lost the top portion of his left thumb in a Supertrucks practice mishap at Evergreen Speedway. After finishing 12th in points in 1996, he ended a nine-year association with Hendrick Motorsports.
Andy Petree Racing and MB2 Motorsports Years (1997–2002)
In 1997, Ken Schrader joined Andy Petree Racing to drive the No. 33 Skoal Bandit Chevrolet Monte Carlo. He posted eight top-tens, won two poles, and finished tenth in the standings, his most recent top-ten points finish. The next season, he earned three fourth-place finishes and two poles. He captured his final Winston Cup pole at Talladega in 1999 but failed to finish in the top-five all year and departed Petree.
Schrader then signed to drive the No. 36 M&M’s Pontiac Grand Prix for MB2 Motorsports. In 2001, during the Daytona 500, he was one of the drivers involved in the last-lap crash that killed Dale Earnhardt. The image of Schrader peering into Earnhardt’s car and then signaling for assistance remains one of the most poignant moments in NASCAR history. He later confirmed in a 2011 interview that he knew Earnhardt had died but did not want to be the one to say it on live television. He left MB2 after the 2002 season, his first without a top-ten finish since 1984.
Later NASCAR Years (2003–2013)
Schrader was announced as the driver of the No. 49 BAM Racing Dodge Intrepid for 2003, with 1-800-Call-ATT as the primary sponsor. That year, he failed to qualify for the Brickyard 400, the first time he had missed a Winston Cup race since 1984, and slipped to 36th in points. He continued with BAM and other teams, earning a sixth-place finish at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2004. In 2006, he drove the No. 21 Little Debbie Ford for Wood Brothers Racing, earning his final two career Cup top-tens. He ran part-time with the Wood Brothers in 2007 and also drove 17 Craftsman Truck Series races for Bobby Hamilton Racing, posting two top-fives.
After stints with BAM Racing, Richard Childress Racing, Hall of Fame Racing, and Phoenix Racing, Schrader ran a limited Cup schedule for FAS Lane Racing starting in 2011. In 2013, he captured the pole for the inaugural Mudsummer Classic at Eldora Speedway in the Camping World Truck Series, setting a track record at age 58 and becoming the oldest pole winner in any NASCAR national series. On October 27, 2013, he announced his retirement from NASCAR, though he clarified that he planned to keep competing in ARCA and dirt modified events.
Fast Track Racing Era (2013–Present)
Since his NASCAR retirement, Ken Schrader has remained active in ARCA, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series dirt events at Eldora, and local short-track racing. On May 21, 2013, he became the oldest ARCA race winner, a milestone that underscored his enduring competitiveness. In 2014, he finished a strong fourth in the Eldora Mudsummer Classic driving his own No. 52 Federated Auto Parts truck, his best NASCAR national-series finish in several years.
Schrader has continued to race the No. 11 Ford for Fast Track Racing in the ARCA Menards Series. On August 14, 2023, at the age of 68, he won the Freshstone Dirt Classic at Ohsweken Speedway in the NASCAR Pinty’s Series, becoming the first non-Canadian driver to win a Pinty’s Series race and the oldest driver to win a NASCAR-sanctioned event. That victory cemented his legacy as one of the sport’s most durable and versatile competitors.
Driving Style and Strengths
Ken Schrader is widely regarded as one of the most well-rounded drivers in NASCAR history, with equal comfort on asphalt and dirt. His short-track background and extensive dirt experience give him exceptional car control in tight, physical racing. Teammates and rivals have long respected his willingness to race door-to-door, his mechanical sympathy, and his tactical patience on long green-flag runs, traits that have allowed him to remain competitive well into his sixties.
Notable Races and Milestones
Schrader captured the Daytona 500 pole in three consecutive years from 1988 through 1990, and his victory in the 1988 Talladega DieHard 500 remains a career highlight. His 2013 pole at Eldora made him the oldest pole winner in any NASCAR national series, and his 2023 Pinty’s Series win at Ohsweken at age 68 added another remarkable chapter. He was also inducted into the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame in 2024.
Ken Schrader Career Wins
Ken Schrader has accumulated victories across NASCAR’s top three national series, the Busch Series, ARCA, and numerous USAC divisions, including sprint cars, Silver Crown, and midgets. His four career Winston Cup Series wins, four Busch Series victories, and wins in the Camping World Truck Series at Eldora demonstrate the depth of his success.
Cup Series Highlights
Ken Schrader scored four career NASCAR Cup Series victories. His first came in the 1988 Talladega DieHard 500 with Hendrick Motorsports, and he added wins at Charlotte Motor Speedway in 1989, the Motorcraft Quality Parts 500 in 1991, and the Dover International Speedway event also in 1991. His last Cup victory came at Dover in 1991. He also earned the 1985 Winston Cup Series Rookie of the Year award.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond the Cup Series, Schrader won four USAC sprint car races, six Silver Crown races, and 21 USAC midget events, along with 24 midget wins in other divisions. He won the 2013 Mudsummer Classic pole at Eldora in the Truck Series, was the oldest ARCA race winner in 2013, and in 2023 became the first non-Canadian to win in the Pinty’s Series at age 68. He has also posted podium finishes in the Superstar Racing Experience, including a third-place result in 2022 at I-55 Speedway.
Ken Schrader Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Ken Schrader is a first cousin once removed of fellow NASCAR driver Carl Edwards, a family connection that has linked the two throughout their careers. His roots in Fenton, Missouri, helped shape his early racing development on Midwest dirt and short tracks.
Personal Life
Ken Schrader resides in Concord, North Carolina, and is married to his wife, Ann. The couple has two children. In addition to his driving duties, he owns Federated Auto Parts Raceway, formerly I-55 Raceway, in Pevely, Missouri, and is co-owner of Macon Speedway near Macon, Illinois. He was inducted into the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame in 2024.
2025 Season Performance
Ken Schrader’s 2025 racing activity is expected to focus on his familiar mix of local dirt and asphalt events, the ARCA Menards Series with Fast Track Racing, and select appearances in dirt-modified and Truck Series events at Eldora. As a veteran in his sixties, he continues to balance a lighter national schedule with a heavy local calendar, allowing him to stay sharp on the short tracks that built his career.
His most recent marquee result came in 2023, when he became the first non-Canadian driver to win in the Pinty’s Series and the oldest driver to win a NASCAR-sanctioned event at age 68. That performance set the tone for his current chapter with Fast Track Racing in ARCA, where his experience remains a major asset. Federated Auto Parts continues to sponsor his various entries.
Looking ahead, Schrader’s 2025 outlook centers on staying competitive at the grassroots level and adding to his remarkable longevity record. Whether behind the wheel of his No. 11 Ford in ARCA or racing his dirt late model and open-wheel modified at tracks across the country, he remains one of the most respected and active senior drivers in American motorsports.
