In the Pits- KSR

Caught up in the 'Chase'

As the 2005 Nextel Cup season winds down and the “Chase for the Nextel Cup” heats up, Ken Schrader and the #49 Schwan’s Home Service Dodge owned by BAM Racing are looking to pick up every point they can in order to climb up the final driver standings while building mo-mentum for next year.

“We’re in the thick of the Chase now, and it’s hard not to get caught up in what is happening,” Schrader said in October while preparing for the Banquet 400 at the Kansas Speedway. “When they announced the Chase format last year I was not in favor of it. I didn’t think our system needed to be changed, but I converted over to a fan of it real quick.

“I think it really has put a lot of energy into our sport. I know I got caught up into it just seeing who was going to be sixth through 10th. There’s no telling with seven races to go who’s a favorite to win.

“All of us are racing for something. For the top-10 teams, they’re obviously racing for a championship. For the rest of us, we’re not only racing for the win each week, but we’re also racing for each position in the points championship. Each position pays more than the next, and it is important for this Schwan’s Home Service team to stay in-side the top-30 in points. Plus, we’re look-ing to continue to improve for 2006.”

The Kansas event is special to the BAM team because Kansas City is the hometown of team owner Beth Ann Morgenthau (her initials make up the team name) and the race takes Schrader, a native of Fenton, MO, back to his Midwest roots.

“I can think of about 10 teams where Kansas seems really important,” Schrader said. “For us, it’s important to run well there because our owner Beth Ann (Morgenthau) is from Kansas City, and everyone wants to do well when they return home. She’s no different; she wants to do well and for us to do well. She’s pretty competitive.

“We’re both from the Midwest and obviously pretty fanatical about racing. There are so many tracks through Kansas and Missouri and Iowa. I grew up in the In-diana-Illinois area running all those tracks. Any time I go home to Missouri or the Midwest, and that includes Kansas City, I consider that home, too.

“The track itself is top notch. It’s one of the newer—if not the newest—on the circuit. You can tell, too. The track is ultra smooth, plenty of room. It’s fun to race because there’s plenty of room to race.”