At 48, he races for love, not money - a passion he believes the younger drivers may not share.
By BRANT JAMES
Published November 7, 2003
Some drivers have an exit strategy. Ken Schrader has an escape-from-the-exit-strategy strategy.
"I'm going to leave this place like a little baby, screaming and crying the whole way," he said, extending his fingers into a cat-claw pose. "I'm going to hang on as long as I can."
It's not that Schrader needs the money. Although the 48-year-old has not won a Winston Cup race in 12 years, and now drives for a modest one-car BAM Racing team that does not have a 2004 sponsor for his No. 49 Dodge, he competes in a sport where a good living can be made. Despite winning just four Cup races in his career, he has amassed almost $23-million in purse money since 1984. He owns Late Model and Modified teams and a dirt track in Missouri where he can play.
The only NASCAR driver with wins in five divisions, Schrader races everywhere, from dirt tracks to asphalt, seeking bliss with "myself and a tractor-trailer and 120 races a year."
"This sport has been good to us," Schrader said. "I've got stuff set aside. I don't need to drive that car, but that's what I love to do."
Fewer drivers, Schrader said, share his "screwed up" compulsion. That doesn't make them wrong, just different, he said. But the nature of the sport will be different, too, if NASCAR's stars get in young and get out rich and healthy.
"(Tony) Stewart likes to race no matter what," Schrader said. "Kenny Wallace likes to race a ton. The rest of the guys would rather do something else, the majority of them. If they want to do something else, that doesn't mean they're not a racer. They're doing fabulous in here. That's their main job, and that's what they need to be focused on. I just think when you're not in here, you can still be doing other stuff. They don't want to do it."
As another crop of NASCAR 40somethings readies to gray and fade away, the sport could lose one of its last storied generations. Bill Elliott, 48, might retire completely or run a limited schedule next season. Terry Labonte, 46, has said he can "count on one hand" his remaining seasons. Ricky Rudd and Rusty Wallace are 47. Dale Jarrett and Sterling Marlin are 46. Though competitive, they are entering an age range when performance generally begins to suffer.
Once they are gone, the grand old men of stock car racing will be in their 30s. Diehard racers will be in short supply.
At 32, Stewart will fit both descriptions, having clearly demonstrated his love for racing, no matter when, no matter where. A former Indy Racing League and Winston Cup champion, he could be forgiven for reducing his workload and finding more refined entertainment. But Stewart remains ardent about his sport, driving cars and owning teams in the World of Outlaws and United States Auto Club.
Like Stewart, Kevin Harvick and Jimmy Spencer have dabbled in the NASCAR Truck series, but their zest appears more contained. Or sane.
"Stewart drove my car twice this year," Schrader said. "He drove at my track (I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Mo.). He came down the first time and was running third on the last lap. I had already wrecked my stuff. His shock broke, and he finished 18th. The second time, we were running second and he was running fourth. He turned over a couple of times, and after we got him turned back right side up, he was all pumped up. When he was changing clothes he told me he couldn't wait until next year. The car was all torn up. He said we'll come here next year and we'll really be good. I told him next year to find someone else's ride because you tore my stuff up twice. You're on your own now, buddy."
Stewart, who recently signed a contract extension reportedly worth a base of $5-million per year with Joe Gibbs Racing, will not speculate on his NASCAR future beyond the conclusion of that deal in 2009. But he plans to continue his extracurricular racing activities whenever his schedule permits.
"Where Joe Gibbs likes to go play golf, I like to race," he said. "It's a release for me. It's a way for me to kind of hit a reset button, and if I have the opportunity to go to a race in the middle of the week, then it seems like when I get to the Cup race on the weekend I'm just a lot more refreshed and relaxed and ready to go."
Ready to go: Schrader's creed.
"I love this," he said. "That's why I go run all the other shows. Some of those shows you get a good deal to go and some of them wind up costing you. You're racing, and that's what I love to do. I'm going to milk this thing."
