Ken Schrader Will Race The Copper Classic

PHOENIX (Jan. 18, 2000) Ken Schrader, one of the most peripatetic athletes in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series when it comes to chasing a place to race, has announced he will compete in the Featherlite Southwest Series 50 presented by Penda Truck Accessories on Feb. 6 at Phoenix International Raceway.

The season opener for the Featherlite Southwest Series, NASCAR Touring, will be part of the 23rd annual Copper World Classic presented by Bosch, Feb. 4-6 at the one-mile "Desert Jewel."

Schrader, new driver of the No. 36 M&M's Pontiac in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, is the career victories leader at the Copper World Classic, which brings together four varied divisions of race cars on the weekend before the start of Speedweeks 2000 for stock cars at Daytona International Speedway.

Schrader, 44, will drive a No. 99 Federated Auto Parts/Penda Late Model car prepared in his own shop. Schrader has six victories in previous Copper World Classics, including the 1998 Featherlite Southwest Series race, USAC Coors Light Silver Bullet Series races in 1989-90 and USAC Midget races in 1981-82 and 1984.

The only division that Schrader -- who is typically apt to race a Late Model on dirt in the same weekend he races his M&M's Pontiac -- hasn't won in at the Copper World is the Supermodifieds.

"Phoenix International Raceway is an awesome race track," Schrader said. "It's a unique track to figure out. It's not really an oval because it has a dogleg turn on the backstretch.

"Turn 4 is also a bit challenging because it is very slick and there are some bumps coming off the turn, so you need to be careful when you're heading for the frontstretch."

Schrader's most recent visit to PIR was during the NASCAR weekend in early November. He raced in both the Outback Steakhouse 200 NASCAR Busch Series Grand National Division race, starting from the Bud Pole with a track record, and in the Checker Auto Parts/Dura Lube 500 NASCAR Winston Cup race.

"I don't typically like flat tracks, but I love Phoenix International Raceway," Schrader said.

Schrader will be joined by a host of other racers as they migrate to the warm Southwest to kick off the NASCAR 2000 racing season. The Copper World Classic is a unique event that features championship-caliber teams and drivers in four different professional racing divisions: The USAC Coors Light Silver Bullet Series; USAC MCI WorldCom Midget Series; Featherlite Southwest Series, NASCAR Touring; and SRL Supermodifieds.

Previous Copper World Winners include famous drivers such as three-time NASCAR Winston Cup champion Jeff Gordon, Davey Hamilton, 1999 NASCAR Winston Cup Raybestos Rookie of the Year Tony Stewart, Billy Boat, two-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday, former NASCAR Winston Cup Rookie of the Year Kenny Irwin, Ted Musgrave and former NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Mike Skinner.

Tickets for the NASCAR 2000 Copper World Classic (Feb. 4-6), the MCI WorldCom Indy200/Chevy Trucks NASCAR 150 (March 17-19) for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the Grand American Road Racing Sports Car event (April 21-22) are now on sale at the Phoenix International Raceway ticket office, located at the Arizona Center in downtown Phoenix, or by calling (602) 252-2227.

Tickets to all spring events at PIR may also be purchased via the Internet at www.phoenixintlraceway.com.

-nascar.com-