The legendary Ned Reynolds, Scott Puryear, and Art Hains sat down with a true icon of the track: Ken Schrader. At 71 years young, Schrader isn’t slowing down one bit—in fact, he’s still spending over 100 days a year in a race car and chasing dirt tracks all over the country.

Dirt Tracks, Tight Racing, and the Love for Springfield

We kicked things off by asking Ken about his recent trip back down to the Ozarks, where he raced at the local Springfield track just last week. Despite starting 23rd on the grid after a rough heat race, Schrader and his crew chief, Aiden, battled back to finish 9th. Ken didn’t hold back his praise for the local scene, noting that the track surface prepared in Springfield is about as good as any dirt track in the country. While he enjoyed pavement tracks like Daytona and Phoenix in his career, Ken admitted his heart completely belongs to the dirt.

The Evolution of Lucas Oil Speedway

The conversation naturally turned to Wheatland, Missouri, home of the spectacular Lucas Oil Speedway. Ken recalled racing there back when it was just known as Wheatland, marveling at the incredible transformation the facility has undergone thanks to the commitment of the Lucas family. He praised it as an “unbelievable facility” that sets the standard for dirt tracks nationwide.

Respect from the Kids and the State of Modern NASCAR

Scott and Ned asked Ken about the dynamic of racing against young guns who are often 50 years his junior. While Ken joked that “most kids don’t even have a clue” about his historical legacy, he remains a massive fan of the current state of racing. In fact, Ken explicitly defended the modern NASCAR Cup Series against critics who pine for the old days, noting that the field is closer and the racing is harder than it has ever been. As a Hendrick Motorsport guy, he continues to cheer on talents like Kyle Larson and keep a close eye on the sport’s bright future.