It's long been said that Ken Schrader will race anything, any time, anywhere. He started building that reputation from the tender age of three.
Schrader’s dad Bill tied a cable from his go-kart to a post in the backyard of their Midwestern home. Schrader would go round and round in circles. When the go-kart ran out of gas, Schrader would ask his dad to fill it back up. Then he would start going in circles all over again.
“I guess you could say that I have been dizzy ever since,” Schrader said. “I really don’t think it is an exaggeration when I say that racing is all I’ve ever known. I’ve been racing since I could walk, and it is really all I have ever wanted to do. To be honest, I would race everyday if I had the opportunity.”
Before getting behind the wheel of a stock car, Schrader raced all over the Midwest, driving mostly open wheel cars. He won in every division he raced, including two USAC championships. Schrader won the USAC Silver Crown championship in 1982, and he followed that up by taking top honors in the USAC Sprint Car division in 1983.
Still, Schrader's eye was on a permanent home in a stock car circuit.
His big break came in 1984 when Schrader rented Elmo Langley’s Fords for a three-race stint before running out of money. Seeing Schrader's skill, Langley allowed him to run two extra races that year. By the end of the season, the cars were still in one piece and Schrader had gotten his take of the big show.
Junie Donlavey liked what he saw in Schrader, and decided to take a chance on the young driver. Donlavey’s hunch paid off as Schrader was named the 1985 Cup rookie of the year.
From Donlavey Racing, Schrader moved to Hendrick Motorsports for nine seasons where he earned all four of his Cup victories.
Besides his full-time Cup career, Schrader also drives for his own team in a variety of series including the Craftsman Truck Series, Winston West Series, ARCA and Southwest Tour Series.
Schrader also finds time to stay close to his roots as he also races at various dirt tracks throughout the Midwest each year. He's also the co-promoter of I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Mo.
