Since I was a little boy growing up in Fenton, Mo.,I found some of my greatest happiness driving in circles. And after 20 full seasons in NASCAR’s elite series, I still can’t wait to put on my helmet, strap in my driver’s seat and chase the checkered flag every Sunday afternoon or any other day of the week for that matter.It is that desire and dedication to drive that has earned my the reputation around the garage as a true racer’s racer. It’s nothing for me to run a couple of dirt races during the week, compete in the Nextel Cup Series on the weekend and then show up at another dirt track show on Monday night.In fact, many have said that I will race just about anything that has wheels. Asphalt or dirt, superspeedway or half-mile track – it really doesn’t matter as long as it has three pedals and a steering wheel.The story of how my racing career began has been told so many times that it is almost legend in the NASCAR ranks.At the young age of three, my dad Bill tied a cable from his go-kart to a post in the backyard of our Midwestern home. I would go round and round in circles. When the go-kart ran out of gas, I would ask my dad to fill it back up. Then I would start going in circles all over again.My love of racing has only progressed over the years.And that’s no understatement. At one point in my career, I was running in excess of 100 races each year. In recent years, I cut that number back to about 90 races a season, but I still climbs in that race car every time he has the chance.For the past 20 years, I focused on racing full-time in the Nextel Cup Series. However, I also drives for his self-owned team in a variety of series including the Craftsman Truck Series, the NASCAR Grand National West Division, the NASCAR Auto Zone Elite Southwest Series and the ARCA Series. I also find time to stay close to his roots as he also races at various dirt tracks throughout the Midwest each year.Driving and owning my own team's isn’t my only connection to racing. For the past nine years, I also been co-promoter for one of the 3/8-mile dirt tracks where I grew up racing – I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Mo.My career started at local dirt tracks just like the one he now owns. Before getting behind the wheel of a stock car, I raced all over the Midwest, driving mostly open wheel cars.I won in every division he raced, including two USAC championships. I won the USAC Silver Crown championship in 1982, and I followed that up by taking top honors in the USAC Sprint Car division in 1983.Despite my success in the open wheel ranks, i wanted to find a permanent home in a stock car circuit.I have claimed 25 victories in a variety of series since Schrader Racing were formed in 1987.Schrader Racing team has also won 17 races with other drivers at the helm. And these numbers don’t begin to include the numerous time I have taken top honors at dirt tracks.In addition to my Nextel Cup duties in 2005, I will again tackle a hectic Schrader Racing schedule. Plans call for me to run 17 races in four different series (Craftsman Truck, NASCAR Southwest, NASCAR West and ARCA). I will also compete in more than 20 races at various dirt tracks.
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