Schrader notably fast in Bud Shootout practice 2

Ken Schrader has not been in a car for a while, but he showed there is no rust on him. He posted the second fastest lap in the second drafting practice with a speed of 191.371. He's driving Scott Speed's No. 82 since he was eligible and Speed was not.

Our View Anything can happen on the restrictor-plate superspeedways, so if you need a dark horse for the Shootout, Schrader's experience makes him very attractive.

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NASCAR veteran Schrader to take on USMTS Modifieds at Humboldt, Caney

CANEY, Kan. (Aug. 8) – NASCAR veteran Ken Schrader will strap on his helmet and compete in his own high-powered dirt Modified when the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour invades the Humboldt Speedway on Friday, Aug. 14, and the Caney Valley Speedway on Saturday, Aug. 15.

With the top dirt Modified drivers in the nation on hand at the two events, the competitors will have some added incentive to find victory lane while fans will have a chance to see one of the biggest names in auto racing history show his skills on the quarter-mile clay oval.

While Schrader, formerly of Fenton, Mo., is best known for circling America's superspeedways with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, he is a highly-regarded prolific dirt track racer with a pedigree. He won't be looking for show up points ... he'll be looking to win.

Schrader will be making his 28th and 29th career starts with the United States Modified Touring Series at Humboldt and Caney. He has six top-5 finishes and eleven top-10s with a career-best finish of third (twice in 2008).

The events will be the fourth and fifth events of the Hunt for the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Championship — an 18-race, season-ending campaign that will culminate with the crowning of the 2009 USMTS National Champion.

The pair of $3,000-to-win shows will be the final two of a five-day swing to kick off the ’Hunt.’

On Friday, gates open at 6:00, hot laps begin at 7:30 and the green flag waves to start the first heat race at 8:00. Race fans can pick up $2-off discount coupons on Friday at the Casey's General Store locations in Chanute and Iola.

The Humboldt Speedway is a 1/4-mile semi-banked clay oval located near Humboldt, Kan., on US 169 at the Humboldt Exit, then 0.1 mile west, then 0.5 mile south, then 0.9 mile east. For more information call 620-431-2470 (office) or 620-473-3694 (track) or visit http://www.humboldtspeedway.com/. B-Mods and Factory Stocks will also be running.

On Saturday, grandstand gates open at 5:00, hot laps are at 7:30 and racing starts at 8:00. Also on the evening's schedule of events will be Street Stocks, Pure Stocks and Turf Cars. Race fans can pick up $2-off discount coupons on Saturday at the Casey's General Store locations in Caney, Coffeyville and Independence. Check out http://www.caseys.com/ to learn more or to find the location nearest you.

The Caney Valley Speedway is a 1/4-mile semi-banked clay oval located near Caney, Kan., 0.8 mile west of the junction of US 75 and US 166 on CR 1600. For more information call 620-330-0485 or visit http://www.caneyvalleyspeedway.net/ on the World Wide Web.

To learn more about the United States Modified Touring Series, visit http://www.usmts.com/ online for the latest news and information from the USMTS.

From a USMTS Press Release

Schrader 13th at Cresco

Ken Schrader finished 13th in an USMTS Modified race at Cresco Speedway in Iowa in a race won by Zack VanderBeek. He was competing in his third consecutive race with that series after finishing 13th at Oskaloosa and 12th in Marshalltown.

Our View: At least he was consistent.

Wallace 9th, Schrader 12th in USMTS

On Wednesday night, Kenny Wallace and Ken Schrader traveled to Marshalltown, Iowa to challenge the USMTS dirt track racers. Wallace finished ninth after starting 20th. Schrader finished 12th after starting ninth.

Our View: There's nothing like a little dirt in the teeth to help identify the real racers.

Schrader 13th at Oskaloosa

On Tuesday night, Ken Schrader did not fare very well in his first of three nights competing against the USMTS dirt track stars at Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa. After starting 15th in the 30-lap A main, he was able to climb to only 13th at the end of the race.

Our View: For Schrader, this is as much about having fun doing what he loves. He would certainly have wanted a better result, but the track time was important nonetheless.

Jason Hughes won the feature.

Schrader to run WoO Late Models

Ken Schrader might not have a NASCAR ride for the moment, but he'll be racing on Memorial Day. He joins the World of Outlaws Late Model series for a tripleheader at US 36 Raceway, 34 Raceway and Charter Raceway from 5/22 through 5/24, according to the WoOLateModels Web site.

Our View: You can't keep Schrader out of a car, and it's great to see him competing in a major series such as this.