Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400 - Ken Schrader Notes

Ken Schrader Notes, Quotes: Pop Secret 400
With thoughts from BAM Owner Beth Ann Morgenthau

With the NASCAR Winston Cup season coming to a close and thoughts of many teams already turned towards 2004, Ken Schrader and the #49 BAM Racing Dodge team head to the 1.017-mile North Carolina Speedway this week for Sunday’s Pop Secret 400.

Beth Ann Morgenthau, whose initials make up the name of the #49 Dodge team, owns the team, along with her husband, Tony. The Coral Gables, Fla., residents are successful investors who have fully funded the team for the complete 2003 season run. Having built the BAM team from the ground up. Ms. Morgenthau is the only female in major league motorsports to start a team without becoming involved because of family connections.

Her driver, the 48-year-old Schrader, is a native of Fenton, Mo., and one of just a few active Winston Cup drivers to have won races on all types of speedways. The busiest driver in major league motorsports, Schrader is closing in on a “100-night” season this year, and will continue a winning Winston Cup career that has seen him win over $20 million.

General manager Eddie Jones is a veteran of the NASCAR Winston Cup wars, enjoying a championship career as a crew chief, mechanic and team leader. Crew chief Scott Eggleston is one of the few active crew chiefs in the business to have won a Daytona 500. Business manager Gus Larkin is a successful veteran motorsports marketer, and is leading the corporate sponsorship activities.

THE THOUGHTS OF #49 BAM RACING DODGE DRIVER KEN SCHRADER HEADING INTO ROCKINGHAM:

“We know every race is important to us right now. Every race puts us ‘on stage’ either through NBC or the people in the grandstands and suites or both. We’re talking to companies now about 2004, and they are watching what we are doing on the track. There are others out there who haven’t spoken with us yet but good runs could open their eyes to what this team is capable of doing.

“There has been a lot of competitive improvement for us throughout the year. We started off with a very solid run at Daytona and have been working at building even more consistency throughout the season. We’ve had good times and some not so good times but, by and large, the team is significantly better than it was when the season began, and it’s going to be even better next year.

“We can win races and we can win poles. That time isn’t far off for us. If we make the strides next year we did this year, it could come pretty darned soon. This is a group of people who know how to win and who have proven they know how to win. We’ve been working this year learning how to win with each other.”

THE THOUGHTS OF BAM RACING OWNER BETH ANN MORGENTHAU HEADING INTO ROCKINGHAM:

“I am optimistic about sponsorship for 2004. We’ve been talking to a lot of companies, many who have shown a tremendous interest in BAM Racing and what it has to offer.

“Look at the positives we offer, many you won’t find anywhere else. First of all, we are already fairly well budgeted, so the costs are going to be less than a sponsor would find elsewhere. We are offering a team that is obviously on its way up, which gives a sponsor someone with whom they can grow within the sport. We can offer our premium team, and not a ‘second’ car or ‘third’ car. That means you get the best we have.

“We’ve been able to bring some corporate sponsorship into the team, and we’re moving ahead with everything for next year. Having Dodge work with us so closely will not only help us on the competitive side of things but will give a corporate sponsor another tremendous avenue to go while working with us. A lot of exciting things are going on with our race team, and we’re excited about the future of BAM Racing.

“We’re still talking and we’re still meeting, and we’re going to do whatever it takes to show corporations the tremendous reasons to be involved with our race team. Nobody can offer what we can, and we think that gives us a leg-up towards 2004.”

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