1/3/2020
Georgetown Speedway
Motorsports Icon Ken Schrader Named Grand Marshal for Melvin L. Joseph Memorial
GEORGETOWN, DE – One of North Americas motorsports
icons – Ken Schrader – will appear at Georgetown Speedway in March.
Schrader has
been named the Grand Marshal for the season-opening Melvin L. Joseph Memorial
at the Sussex County half-mile oval Friday-Saturday March 6-7. The two-day
event is headlined by the Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series (STSS)
Fueled By Sunoco Velocita-USA South Region presented by Design for Vision and
Sunglass Central Modified opener, paying $10,049 to win.
Starting out at
the age of 16, Schrader is entering his 50th year of auto racing in
2020. Schrader has driven virtually every kind of race car: Late Models,
Modifieds, Sprint Cars, Midgets, Sports Cars, Indy Cars and Stock Cars.
The Fenton,
Mo., driver spent 29 seasons competing at the NASCAR Cup level, amassing 763
starts from 1984 through the conclusion of the 2013 season. He scored four Cup
victories, 64 top-five and 184 top-10 finishes.
All of
Schraders Cup conquests came while driving for team owner Rick Hendrick.
Schraders
last Cup win, incidentally, took place at Delawares Dover Downs International
Speedway – a track constructed by Melvin L. Joseph – on June 2, 1991 in the
Budweiser 500.
The
64-year-old Schrader, one of the most popular figures in the country, has
filled many roles in the sport including driver, team owner, author, radio and
television commentator, spotter, track promoter and mentor.
Schraders
lifelong goal has always been to race as often as possible in as many classes
of car as possible. Hes spent more than 20 years traveling the United States
as a spokesman for Federated Auto Parts while driving his Federated-backed No.
9 UMP-style Modified as frequently as possible.
Schrader has
visited Georgetown Speedway for the last three seasons for private Federated
Auto Parts hospitality events. In March, he will have the opportunity to meet fans,
sign autographs and share some of his legendary stories. Should Schrader get
medical clearance from an off-season shoulder surgery, he could even turn a few
laps on the Georgetown clay!
The 20 Melvin
L. Joseph Memorial weekend agenda is as follows:
Friday,
March 6 – Small-Block Modifieds 30 laps, $4,049 to win,
RUSH Late Models 20 laps, $1,049 to win, Delmarva Chargers, Delaware Super
Trucks – STSS Mod & Crate 602 Practice (timed – top-two go to Saturday
redraw)
Saturday,
March 7 – Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super
Series Fueled By Sunoco Modifieds 49 laps, $10,049 to win, STSS Crate 602
Sportsman 20 laps, $1,490 to win, Southern Delaware Vintage Stock Cars,
Delmarva Chargers & Delaware Super Trucks
A
weather date of March 13-14 is in place.
Georgetown
Speedway, originally constructed by Melvin L. Joseph in 1949, is located at the
intersection of Route 113 and Speedway Road in Georgetown, Del., just miles
from the Delaware beaches and less than a 40-minute drive from Ocean City, Md.
A website is
live for the speedway at www.thegeorgetownspeedway.com. Like Georgetown Speedway on
Facebook, follow @thegtownspdwy on Twitter, e-mail georgetownspeedway@gmail.com or contact the speedway hotline at
302.563.GTWN (4896).