Mansfield: Ken Schrader preview

* Ken Schrader will be making his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start at Mansfield MotorSports Park on Saturday.

* The Ohio 250 will mark Schrader's 74th NCTS start. In his previous 73 races Schrader has an average starting position of 15th and finishing 17th.

* Schrader will pilot "Slim" this weekend at Mansfield. He drove this particular chassis at Martinsville and scored a 12th place finish.

* Bobby Hamilton Sr. drove "Slim" to victory at Mansfield MotorSports Park in 2005.

STRATEGY THE KEY FOR SCHRADER AT MANSFIELD "I was trying to remember the other day if I have ever been to Mansfield before. And I came to the conclusion if I had it was when the track was dirt not asphalt. I know USAC ran there many years ago so I could have very well been there. After a while they all run together. But if my experience tells me anything it will be just like any other short track. Strategy is everything both on the track and on pit road. You have to use the right pit strategy to stay with the leader or sometimes you use that to outsmart him. Also, you have to use strategy on the track to make that last pass or by not getting caught up in someone else's mess. It makes for a very interesting Saturday afternoon at the office. "

PRACTICE FOR MANSFIELD: "This past Sunday I ran the ARCA race at Toledo Speedway. It was a Ken Schrader Racing entry and I am happy to say we finished in second place. The race did not end the way I had hoped it would. It was kind of a wreck fest at the end. I just hate to see races end that way. I didn't really think about it at first, but then I realized it was great practice for this weekend at Mansfield. Both tracks are half-mile ovals and have a small amount of banking. They are still very similar in comparison. So I'll use the 200 laps I had to prepare for this weekend's race and hopefully that will give us an edge."

BHR Names New Truck Chief on the Fastenal Dodge: "BHR promoted Tony Pinkelton to truck chief last week before the Quaker Steak and Lube 200 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. The 24 year old Tennessee native has been with at BHR since 2003 and has worked under five different crew chiefs. Pinkelton was a member of Bobby Hamilton Sr.'s championship pit crew in 2004 and currently serves as the front tire changer on the Fastenal Dodge.

-credit: bhr