SCHRADER MAKES PIR HISTORY WITH NASCAR WEST SERIES WIN IN THE COPPER CLASSIC.

Source: Dave Grayson
Date: 01/24/2006

AVONDALE, Arizona -- As he often has so many times in the past, Ken "I'll drive anything-anytime-anywhere" Schrader took some time off from his NASCAR Nextel Cup duties to pay a visit to the 29th annual Copper Classic at the Phoenix International Raceway where he won the January 22nd United Rentals 125 NASCAR Grand National Division West Series event.

When Schrader arrived at Phoenix he basically had three goals in mind: first, win both the NASCAR Southwest Series and West Series races held that afternoon. Secondly, he was looking to establish a new record as the winningest driver at PIR and, third, he just wanted to have a lot of fun.

Schrader had his day of fun at PIR. First off, he finished second in the Southwest Series event in a very close finish. A few hours later he was celebrating in PIR's Gatorade Victory Lane after winning the West Series race which his marked his 11th series in the many years he has visited it. The Phoenix win, the 16th in his career, also broke a long standing tie with NASCAR legend Richard Petty at 15 wins each.

34 starters, led by Pole winner Spencer Clark and Nick Lynch, took the green flag. Clark jumped into the lead but the race quickly went under the yellow caution flag when Lynch blew a right front tire and stopped on the track after narrowly missing the outside turn four wall.

The field lined up for their side by side restart and, reigning series champion, Mike Duncan got the jump but could only hold the point for one lap before Clark retook the lead. The field slowed again, on lap 21, when the second yellow flag was displayed due to a loose wheel that came off of Austin Cameron's Chevrolet.

The ensuing side by side restart saw NASCAR Busch East driver Matt Kobyluck grab the lead but he could only hold it for a lap before a very strong Clark again took command of the race all the way to lap 54 when Schrader took the lead for the first time. He set the pace until lap 58 when the race's third yellow came out due to David Eshleman's turn three crash. This caution flag allowed the leaders to come to pit road for tires and fuel.

When they lined up for the restart, Schrader went back into the lead and set a torrid pace until the field slowed on lap 89 when the caution came out again. This fourth caution flag involved Duncan who was tapped in the rear bumper by Eric Hardin. The series champion spun backwards into the turn two wall and was finished for the afternoon.

Clark jumped into the lead, following the restart, for only one lap when the fifth, and final, caution came out when Carl Harr crashed hard into the turn one wall. On the final restart Clark again jumped into the lead and set the pace until lap 109 when Scharder overtook him with the race winning move.

Schrader's car was extremely good on long runs and he was able to keep the lead until the laps ran out. Eric Holmes finished second, .128 seconds behind the leader; Kobyluck was third followed by Clark whose car faded at the end of the race. Series rookie Peyton Sellers impressed everyone with a fifth place finish in his first ever West Series event.

In victory lane Schrader said "we were just terrible on restarts. The car ran great on long runs but those restarts were just killing us. I've always like coming out here to race at Phoenix. I first came out here in nineteen oh something and I just love this facility."

See Also .:

• Ken Schrader Driver Card
• Phoenix International Raceway Track Page

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