Schrader puts BAM on second row at Bristol

BRISTOL, Tenn. -- Ken Schrader has been trying to tell people that BAM Racing was a lot better than they showed in 2002.

With a few more runs like Friday's qualifying effort, maybe people will start to believe him.

Schrader's No. 49 Dodge was fourth-quickest in practice, and then Schrader stepped things up a bit with a 127.123 mph lap that was good enough for the third starting spot in Sunday's Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway.

	Ken Schrader

"Even though (owners) Beth Ann and Tony (Morgenthau) have made the financial commitment to run the whole season, when you're running without a name on that car like we are most of the time -- we're lucky for seven races to have 800-CALL-ATT -- it's hard to convince people how serious you are when it's a plain white truck," Schrader said.

The car does have sponsorship this weekend from the collect-call provider, but money doesn't necessarily increase performance. Still, BAM has stepped up this season.

In 2002, the team fielded cars for six drivers in 17 races with nary a top-10. In fact, Schrader's 17th-place finish at Darlington Raceway last weekend was BAM Racing's best.

And Friday's qualifying effort was also the best for the fledgling team.

"BAM's done a lot," Schrader said. "When they got (crew chief) Scott Eggleston over there, it helped a lot. Beth Ann and Tony have made a commitment to run the whole season. They're getting all their cars alike. They built all new stuff over the winter, even though this car here is a re-done one from last year. It's the fourth time we've run it this year because we like it.

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"I don't think I screwed 'em, up too bad. But they were doing a lot of stuff right to start with."

Schrader isn't ready to say the team has arrived as a consistent contender yet, but things are getting better.

"We're 37th in points," Schrader said. "That's not real good. We've had some good runs; we haven't finished that good. But it's early in the year. They've got a lot of good stuff over there. When I went over there and saw what they had and some of the people they had working there, I knew we could get something going out of it."

Simply getting better equipment isn't the only answer, Schrader said.

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"Stepping up equipment ain't a big deal," Schrader said. "Everybody's got good stuff. You don't win it with stuff. You win it with people, how you work on it and communication."

Friday, they put it all together.

"My balance was good," Schrader said. "Scott Eggleston always runs good here, and he said we'd be good when we unloaded."

Then it was up to Schrader. He jokes that he hasn't hurt the team, but qualifying at Bristol often is all about the driver.

"Every time I look around, I'm the only one in there," Schrader said, referring to a line Jeff Gordon said once.