Another fresh look for veteran Schrader at Sparta

Ken Schrader has made more than 900 starts in NASCAR's three national touring series. He has raced from Atlanta to Watkins Glen in the Cup Series; from Atlanta to Volusia County, Fla., in the Busch Series; and from Atlanta to Topeka in the Truck Series.

But Saturday will be his first start at Kentucky Speedway, a seven-year-old facility in Sparta, Ky. The 1.5-mile track played host to its first Busch Series race on July 16, 2001, and its inaugural Truck Series race was held on Sept. 30, 2001.

Ken Schrader

"Kentucky is another track I have never raced at before," Schrader said. "Just last week [at Memphis] we were talking about how hard it was to find a track I have never raced at -- and now we have found two in a row."

Schrader, whose average finish is 17.9 in 11 starts, has had back-to-back 18th-place runs in the No. 18 Dodge. Except for three thirtysomething finishes this year -- two by DNFs -- it's been a solid year for Bobby Hamilton Racing; with Schrader behind the wheel, the team has six top-15 finishes, with a season-best of third at Mansfield.

As a result Schrader sits 17th in points despite having missed one race; Joe Ruttman drove the No. 18 at Kansas and finished 27th in his first NASCAR start since 2002.

Schrader also has eight starts in the Cup Series this year. He was replaced by 1988 Cup champion Bill Elliott as the driver of the No. 21 car with the team outside the top 35 in owner points.

Adding to the anticipation this weekend is that the BHR team already has a victory at Kentucky. Bobby Hamilton won the 2004 race, the third of four victories he posted that season en route to the series championship.

Known for his desire to race 24/7/365, Schrader is eager to take to the track this weekend.

"Unlike Memphis, I have tested at Kentucky," he said. "I made about 30 laps in a Cup car there about a year or so ago. I think I will really enjoy racing there.

"I am just glad I can mark another one of my list. Racing at so many different race tracks is another reason why I enjoy running the Truck Series."

• Ted Musgrave returns to the No. 9 Toyota after being suspended for Memphis. He has eight top-10 finishes in 11 starts and sits 10th in points. Musgrave's track record at Kentucky is stellar: five top-10s in six starts -- and his only DNF came in 2001 when, while leading the race, he crashed with a lapped truck.

• Dennis Setzer and Terry Cook are the only drivers who have started all seven races at Kentucky Speedway. Setzer has the highest average finish (7.7) among drivers with at least three starts at the track, including a win among four top-five finishes.

• Ron Hornaday is the defending race winner. He was the seventh different winner in as many races at Kentucky, following Greg Biffle, Scott Riggs, Mike Bliss, Carl Edwards, Bobby Hamilton and Dennis Setzer.