Ken Schrader
West 1973
Ken Schrader graduated from West High in 1973. He currently lives in Concord, NC.
Ken is the driver of the #49 car in the NASCAR Nextel Cup (formerly the Winston Cup) Series. He drives for BAM Racing and is sponsored by Schwan's Home Service. Ken has four wins to his credit in the NASCAR Winston Cup ranks. He took first place at Talladega in 1988, at Charlotte in 1989, at Atlanta in 1991 and at Dover in 1991. Ken also has 64 top-five and 176 top-10 finishes.
Other highlights from Ken's long career of racing include starting in the pole position at the Daytona 500 in 1988, 1989 and 1990. In 1985 he was named the Winton Cup Series Rookie of the Year. He has also driven in recent years in the NASCAR Busch Series and Craftsman Truck Series.
In 1987 Ken formed Schrader Racing, for which he has won 19 races in a variety of series. He has also won countless dirt-track races at smaller venues. The Schrader Racing team has won 17 races with other drivers behind the wheel. Ken is also the co-promoter of I-55 Raceway in Pevely.
Ken began his career racing open wheel cars, winning the USAC Silver Crown Championship in 1982 and taking first place in the USAC Sprint Car division in 1983. His success in open wheel racing did not diminish his dreams of becoming a stock car racer, an opportunity that he received in 1984.
In 1984 Ken rented Fords to race from Elmo Langley. He competed in three races, until he ran out of money. Langley was so impressed by Ken's ability and care for the cars that he allowed Ken to race in two extra races. From that point, Ken pursued his dream even greater by contacting Winston Cup owner Junie Donlavey, who took a chance on the young driver. In 1985 Ken won his rookie of the year honor.