Tropicana 400 - Ken Schrader Notes

Ken Schrader Notes, Quotes: Tropicana 400
Flying with the Red Baron

Ken Schrader and the #49 Red Baron Dodge team head to the 1.5-mile Chicagoland Speedway, located in Joliet, Ill., for Sunday’s Tropicana 400, the 18th race of the 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup season.

Driving a car emblazoned with the Red Baron frozen pizza colors this week and at Atlanta in October, Schrader is a native of Fenton, Mo., and the busiest driver in major league motorsports, Schrader has raced on virtually every type of speedway in virtually every type of race car, and continues a winning career with BAM Racing, which fields the Red Baron Dodge team.

The team is owned by Beth Ann and Tony Morgenthau, investors from Coral Gables, Fla. Ms. Morgenthau, whose initials make up the name of the team – BAM Racing – is the only female car owner in motorsports to become involved without prior family connections. General manager Eddie Jones is a veteran of the NASCAR Nextel 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 leads the corporate sponsorship activities.

Red Baron is returning to NASCAR competition in celebration of the Red Baron Pizza Squadron’s 25th anniversary. Red Baron frozen pizza products are distributed under the Schwan’s Consumer Brands North America banner, which also markets other leading frozen-food retail brands that include Tony’s® and Freschetta® frozen pizzas, Pagoda® Asian specialties, and Larry’s® potato side-dishes. Schwan’s Consumer Brands is a division of The Schwan Food Company, whose Schwan’s Home Service business unit sponsors Schrader and the #49 BAM Dodge throughout the remainder of the season.

The Schwan Food Company is a privately held manufacturer and marketer of fine frozen foods through its nationwide Schwan’s Home Service home-delivery service, its Schwan’s Consumer Brands North America retail grocery business, and its Schwan’s Food Service Group foodservice unit. Headquartered in Marshall, Minn., Schwan’s production and distribution activities in the United States and Europe employ 24,000 people. Among its well-known brands are Schwan’s®, Tony’s®, Red Baron®, Freschetta®, Pagoda®, Mrs. Smith’s®, and Edwards®.

The thoughts of Red Baron Dodge driver Ken Schrader heading into Chicagoland:

“When you sit down and watch the race this weekend, do not adjust your television sets. You are not in the twilight zone, we’re just helping an old friend of ours celebrate a special anniversary. This week we’re going to have Red Baron Pizza on the #49 and it’s pretty special for me as well, because long ago they were my first primary sponsor I ever had in Cup racing, back when we ran for Junie Donlavey in 1986 & 1987.

“We had two great years together while I was driving Mr. Donlavey’s car. It was the most colorful car on the race track, and it was really cool to see run. The fans really liked it then and today’s fans are really going to like it too. It’s neat to think we’ll be able to bring the Red Baron car to a new generation who never got to see it back in 1987.

“Here it is some 17 years later and Red Baron is going to be back on the car. We’ve always maintained a terrific relationship with these guys, though. I want you to know that since they first sponsored my car with Mr. Donlavey, back in 1986, that they have kept my mother supplied with at least two Red Baron Frozen Pizzas in her freezer ever since. That’s really all you need to know about the quality of our relationship throughout the years. So, when I say I’m proud to fly the Red Baron colors again on the racetrack… I’m not just blowing smoke at you.

“Chicagoland is pretty new and smooth, a great facility, and is guaranteed to be as fast as ever with the new tire compound that we’re running this year. The tri-oval is at such an angle, it really feels like a long left land turn from the time you go into turn three until you exit turn two. It’s always good to come to these big markets like Chicago. The sponsors love it because it’s great exposure for our sport and their product. For every traditionalist who hates these races leaving the old rural tracks, there are sponsors – and fans - who love these large market race tracks gaining more races.

“Hopefully, we’ll be able to give Red Baron a fitting return to the track. Chicagoland wasn’t too kind to us last season but we’ve come a long way since then. This team loves a challenge and it’s nice to come back to a track where we’re due a little redemption. The Red Baron team feels like we can accomplish that this weekend.”