Heat Leads to Long Night, Disappointing Finish for Schrader, Brewco Motorsports Yard-Man team
Date: April 21, 2006
Event: Bashas’ Supermarkets 200
Location: Phoenix International Raceway
Start: 24th
Finish: 25th
Avondale, AZ (April 24, 2006) – After posting two consecutive top-10 finishes, Brewco Motorsports’ No. 66 team was looking forward to the Bashas’ Supermarkets 200 at Phoenix International Raceway. The Newt Moore-led team won the event in 2005 and felt confident they had a winning car heading into the race weekend.
The weekend started off strong for Ken Schrader and the Yard-Man team. The No. 66 Ford Fusion unloaded fast and was fifth on the speed chart following first practice. The team struggled through final practice and qualifying but they felt good about their race setup and were ready to have a good showing in the season’s first night race.
The air temperature at Phoenix International Raceway was 90 degrees when the green flag dropped which led to soaring water temperatures for Ken Schrader’s Yard-Man Ford Fusion. By lap 15, Schrader reported a reading of 250 degrees. When the caution flew for debris two laps later, the Yard-Man team went to work changing two tires and pulling tape off of the nose of the No. 66 Ford Fusion. The extra time on pit road led to Schrader restarting 31st on lap 20.
Schrader was quickly caught a lap down and was never able to recover. The Yard-Man Ford Fusion made up six spots before the race ended and finished 25th, one lap down.
“We were really excited to get back to Phoenix,” said Moore. “We got behind early and were never able to recover. I hate it for Schrader and Yard-Man. We’ve had some bad luck with him in our cars this year but it is going to get better here real soon. We’re taking a real fast car to Talladega and we’re going to keep the Yard-Man Ford Fusion out front all afternoon.”
Schrader will return to Brewco Motorsports and the No. 66 Yard-Man Ford Fusion next weekend at Talladega Superspeedway for the Aaron’s 312.
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