I picked these two to write about because they are racers who’s NASCAR careers may not be what they once were, but they continue to race throughout America in their own dirt cars. Why? Because they are true racers. Racing is what they do, and what they will continue to do until someone pries the steering wheel out of their hands.
I have included bios from their respective websites. Schrader’s site is out of date and I am not surprised. What does surprise me is that this great “old school” racer even has a website. The pictures you see below were unfortunately not taken by me. They come from their websites.
Ken Schrader
I was attending a USAC stock car race at the Milwaukee Mile in Wisconsin in the 1970s. I wanted to know who was driving the red Mustang. I had never seen anyone drive so deeply into the corners at Milwaukee. As a photographer I covered Ken Schrader races in the USAC midget, sprint car and Silvercrown divisions. One of those midget races was indoors. I also covered a World of Outlaw sprint car race at Santa Fe Speedway in Chicago, in which Ken was competing. Then came his time in NASCAR. I remember once after Ken completed the Brickyard 400 on a Saturday afternoon, he jumped in his plane and headed for Milwaukee and the Hales Corners Speedway to compete in a weekly Saturday night dirt late model event. The feature came down to a lap after lap, wheel to wheel, cushion riding duel between Ken and a local star. Unlike many big stars who appear at a track near you, just to have a little fun and pick up some money, Ken always comes to race. After 400 miles in the afternoon, and a 300 mile plane ride, the feature victory was in his pocket. At around midnight.
Ken followed childhood friend Rusty Wallace into NASCAR’s Cup division. For several years Ken was a major player. That lasted until he and Rick Hendrick parted company and NASCAR has been a hit and miss proposition ever since. He won four major NASCAR Cup races in his career. He continues to race a full time schedule of dirt modified and late model races across America and Canada. Ken still races several times a year in the NASCAR Cup #32. He owns an ARCA stock car that is driven by Tom Hessert.
Birthdate: May 29, 1955
Hometown: Fenton, Mo.
Residence: Concord, N.C.
Family: Wife; Ann
Children; Dorothy, Sheldon
Ken Schrader has been called the consummate race car driver – he can drive anything with wheels, represents his sponsors well and relates to his fans. Throughout his career, Schrader has been successful at every level of racing in which he has competed, including 27 years as a NASCAR Sprint Cup driver. Schrader’s race records read like a who’s who – you may think you are reading about several drivers’ careers, when in fact, all the records belong to him! From USAC, ARCA and just about every series within NASCAR, and on dirt, Schrader’s accomplishments are chronicled in the record books! Schrader is quick to credit many people for his success – his family, childhood heroes, car owners, sponsors and team members. Schrader’s success as a race car driver carries over into other areas of his life. His on-track records are just part of the story. As a race team owner, Schrader has fielded cars in NASCAR, ARCA and several dirt series. As a TV commentator, Schrader has worked with SPEED and ESPN, offering his own perspective as a driver/owner. For the 2011 season, Schrader Racing is competing for the ARCA championship with driver Tom Hessert in the #52 Federated Auto Parts car. In addition to his duties as a car owner within the ARCA Series this season, Schrader will serve as a commentator for select televised ARCA races. “I’m just as excited about the 2011 racing season as I have been all the other seasons,” Schrader said from his Concord, N.C. shop. “Each new season offers potential for success and the opportunity to go out and do what I love best – race!” Dirt racing is one of Schrader’s passions and he competes whenever and wherever possible. During the 2010 season, Schrader raced his Federated Auto Parts-sponsored late model and modified cars in 29 states and one Canadian province. As a businessman and co-owner of three dirt tracks – I-55 Speedway, Pevely, Mo.; Macon Speedway, Macon, Ill. and Paducah International Raceway, Paducah, Ky. – Schrader lends his expertise and insight to the tracks, while working with his partners to maintain the uniqueness of each. Throughout the season, Schrader competes at each track to the delight of his many fans.
For more than 40 years, Schrader has been part of the American motorsports scene. The 2011 season will see him compete as a part-time driver of the #32 FASNASCAR NOW program. And from his race team shop in Dittmer, Mo., Schrader plans to squeeze in as much dirt racing as possible.
Don’t look for Schrader to be slowing down any time soon. As has been documented in his book titled Gotta Race, “I want to spend my time racing,” Schrader said. “It’s not only my job, but it’s also my hobby, I love the time I get to spend behind the wheel, and as long as I can, I’m going to race whenever I can.”
Kenny Wallace
Kenny Wallace is the younger brother of Mike and the aforementioned Rusty Wallace. He has had an up and down career in NASCAR but remains one of the most popular drivers in all of racing. He still competes in NASCAR’s Nationwide series. He owns a dirt late model team and crosses America (much like Schrader) competing at a track near you.
My first memories of Kenny come from my photographer days as I covered the USAC and ASA stock car series when older brother Rusty was competing. Kenny was an active crew member until he began his own career. My first experience photographing a race in which Kenny was competing occurred in the early 1980s at Berlin raceway in Michigan. The event was sanctioned by ASA.
Kenny Wallace Fast FactsDate of Birth: August 23, 1963
Height: 5’ 11” Weight: 162
Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
Resides: Concord, North Carolina
Wife: Kim Wallace (high-school sweetheart) anniversary 6/23/1984
Children: Brooke (25), Brandy (22), Brittany (21)
Parents: Russ(deceased 10/30/11) and Judy Wallace
Brothers: Rusty and Mike Wallace
Favorite food: pork chops, Oriental chicken salad
Favorite sports team: St. Louis Cardinals
Favorite band(s)/music: Aerosmith, Nelly, Patsy Cline
Favorite movie: The Green Mile
Hobbies: Spending time with family, racing dirt cars
Number of years racing (professional): 26 years
Racing role-model: Dick Trickle
Track you most want to win at: the next one
Favorite track: the next one
Most memorable racing experience: 2001 Talladega race, pushing Dale Earnhardt to his final win
What do you like most about racing? Chance of winning each weekend
I specifically targeted Ken and Kenny for today’s post because they exemplify what the true racer is all about. They would both love to be Cup champions and win the Daytona 500 (Schrader almost did), but above all they want to race. They are just as fulfilled when they are running the ¼ mile dirt down the street. They genuinely love the fans and always seem happy to meet you and spend some time talking with you. Hopefully every generation of racers will produce a new group of Ken and Kennys!
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