Ken Schrader: Villain or Hero?

Originally Posted on May 15, 2006 on foxsports.com

In Saturday night's race at Darlington, Ken Schrader had two incidents involving Hendrick Motorsports drivers. 

In the first incident, which was the last pit stop of the race, Schrader was coming on pit road.  He was driving on the right hand side of the entry/exit lane, so he had to cross over the other lane to get into his pit box.  Nearly all the cars on the lead lap had come in during this round of green flag stops.  As Schrader did so, Jimmie Johnson, who was trying to get out as the third car on the lead lap, was exiting his pit box upon completing his pit stop.

As Johnson merged right, Schrader merged left.  Schrader was ahead of Johnson and was slowing, which caused Johnson to practically stop in pit lane.  Johnson went out on to the track in fourth place, several seconds behind the leaders.  Johnson didn't blame Schrader, but called it one of "those racing deals."

After pit stops, Jeff Gordon was chasing down leader Greg Biffle.  The lapped traffic was slowing down Biffle, and Gordon was rapidly catching him (thanks in part to one lap newer tires).  On the final lap, Biffle came up on Schrader, who was running in 15th place still on the lead lap.  Schrader yielded his lane and line to Biffle. 

By the time Gordon reached Schrader's bumper, Schrader yielded his lane again.  However, Gordon had been running a unique line through the corner which required 2 lanes.  Gordon was unhappy that Schrader hadn't (apparently) pulled on the apron to let him pass.  His comment was that Schrader cost him the race.

Conspiracy theorists will think that Schrader, who drives a Ford, was blocking for Biffle, another Ford driver.  Or they think that Schrader has it in for Hendrick Motorsports.

The reality is that the timing of the pass was off - whether that was due to Schrader, Biffle, Gordon or just how things happened.  Schrader was probably not watching the line Gordon was taking through the corners, and had no idea what Gordon wanted.  Additionally, Schrader had his finish to think about as well.

Whether you think Schrader is the villian in this or the hero probably says more about your driver or manufacturer alligence than it does about what happened. 

Because it was just racing at Darlington.