Ken Schrader

Ken Schrader made 764 Cup Series starts across 20 seasons, won four races, and earned 23 poles while simultaneously maintaining one of the most active short-track racing schedules in the country. The Fenton, Missouri native was the ultimate racer's racer -- a man who would compete at Daytona on Sunday and then show up at a dirt track in the Midwest on Wednesday because he simply could not stop racing. His Cup career saw him drive for Hendrick Motorsports, where he was Jeff Gordon's teammate during the Rainbow Warrior's early years, and later for several smaller organizations where his experience and seat time made him an invaluable asset. Schrader's four Cup victories included wins at Talladega and Dover, but his real value went far beyond the win column. Schrader was one of the most experienced and respected voices in the garage, a driver whose knowledge of race car setup, track conditions, and racing strategy was sought by crew chiefs and teammates throughout the paddock. He was also one of the first responders to reach Dale Earnhardt's car after the fatal crash in the 2001 Daytona 500, a moment that affected him deeply. Even after leaving the Cup Series, Schrader continued to race hundreds of events per year on short tracks, proving that for some competitors, racing is not a career but a calling. Ken Schrader's 764 Cup starts and his relentless short-track schedule paint the portrait of a man who was born to race.

Written by Richard R. Glover, NASCAR Reference