Schrader Bumps Into a Wild Victory at Saugus

Winston Cup veteran Ken Schrader, penalized to the rear of the field for rough driving early in the race, came back in his Chevrolet truck to win the Craftsman SuperTruck 200 Saturday night before the largest crowd to watch a race at Saugus Speedway.

More than 10,000 crammed into the smallest track on the SuperTruck circuit, and the spectators, plus a national TV audience, were treated to a wild bumping and spinning contest that had 11 caution flags and one 28-minute stretch when the race was stopped.

The 66.6-mile event, run in two 100-lap segments, turned into a melee as two and sometimes three cars struggled to race side by side around the perimeter of owner Ray Wilkings’ swap meet grounds.

Schrader was penalized for knocking P.J. Jones into the wall the 12th time around the one-third mile oval, but he battled his way through the 24-car field to take the lead on the 147th lap when Joe Ruttman pushed leader Butch Miller against the first-turn wall.

“P.J. knocked me out of the way, so I knocked him back harder,” Schrader said.

Schrader had never seen the Saugus track before Saturday, but said: “It was just like any other track you run for the first time.” This was one of nine SuperTruck races that he plans to fit into his Winston Cup schedule.

Once he got to the front, Schrader fought off Geoff Bodine to win the $20,000 first prize, largest in Saugus’ 56-year history. Bodine, also taking a week off from the Winston Cup circuit, finished second. Former Saugus champion Bill Sedgwick was third, and Miller came back to finish fourth.

Ruttman, who was running second when he collected Miller, was sent to the rear for rough driving.

Mike Skinner, who led the first 115 laps in Richard Childress’ black No. 3 Goodwrench Chevrolet truck, lost the lead when he tangled with Jerry Glanville, the former NFL coach turned race driver. Glanville, already several laps behind, was docked five laps for getting in the leader’s way. Skinner finished fifth.

Jones, after being knocked out of contention first by Schrader and later when he spun in heavy traffic, caused a red flag when the engine on his Chevrolet let go and dropped oil all around the track after briefly catching fire.

After the long delay, Jones returned to the race and finished 16th, nine laps behind the winner.

The SuperTruck series will be at Mesa Marin Raceway in Bakersfield next Saturday.