CHEWIN_DIRT
one six MAFIA
Schrader hangs out with PGA champ at Phoenix
AVONDALE, Ariz. -- NASCAR Winston Cup driver Ken Schrader had the line of the day Friday at Phoenix International Raceway.
The NBC television network had gathered more than 30 full-time Winston Cup drivers for a "class picture" that would be used as part of Sunday's broadcast of the Checker Auto Parts 500 presented by Pennzoil at Phoenix International Raceway.
Drivers trickled into the group as they scrambled over from the just concluded Busch Series practice and NBC's "boom camera" swept back and forth, recording various takes.
Before the process was through, Schrader simply disconnected himself from the group and walked away, saying, "Awww, I might not be here next year anyways."
NASCAR's "Silly Season" game of musical chairs is in its wind-down phase, and Schrader -- who actually competed in his own vehicles in two other NASCAR races this weekend -- is among those drivers without a seat.
Schrader, who is driving the No. 36 Pedigree Pontiac for MB2 Motorsports at Phoenix and will be in the car for the final time next weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway, found out one career option he doesn't have.
Schrader, PIR's all-time leading race winner with victories in three different divisions gave professional golfer Rich Beem, winner of the 2002 PGA Championship, some driving tips during three laps of Phoenix's unique one-mile layout.
"We got out there in the pace car, and Kenny was telling me how the race car would be going on track," Beem said. "We were doing about 65, and I was like, 'OK, I think that's fast enough for me."
Following the pace car ride, Beem tried to give Schrader some golf pointers by launching balls from the grassy apron inside Turn 3, to the rocky hillside that overlooks that end of the desert oval.
While Beem's drives soared through the air, Schrader's one and only shot bounced across the asphalt in Turn 3 and over the wall.
Schrader declined to continue, saying, "My first shot is usually my best, and you saw how that was. I have no golfing skills, (so) I think I need to stick to driving the car."
After the shared sessions, each athlete expressed some respect for the other's skills.
"My nickname would be Crash," Beem said. "I'd crash in the first turn so I wouldn't have to drive the whole race."
"I really don't know how he does it out there," Schrader said. "It's just him and the golf ball. At least if something happens in a race, we have about 50 different things we can blame it on."
AVONDALE, Ariz. -- NASCAR Winston Cup driver Ken Schrader had the line of the day Friday at Phoenix International Raceway.
The NBC television network had gathered more than 30 full-time Winston Cup drivers for a "class picture" that would be used as part of Sunday's broadcast of the Checker Auto Parts 500 presented by Pennzoil at Phoenix International Raceway.
Drivers trickled into the group as they scrambled over from the just concluded Busch Series practice and NBC's "boom camera" swept back and forth, recording various takes.
Before the process was through, Schrader simply disconnected himself from the group and walked away, saying, "Awww, I might not be here next year anyways."
NASCAR's "Silly Season" game of musical chairs is in its wind-down phase, and Schrader -- who actually competed in his own vehicles in two other NASCAR races this weekend -- is among those drivers without a seat.
Schrader, who is driving the No. 36 Pedigree Pontiac for MB2 Motorsports at Phoenix and will be in the car for the final time next weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway, found out one career option he doesn't have.
Schrader, PIR's all-time leading race winner with victories in three different divisions gave professional golfer Rich Beem, winner of the 2002 PGA Championship, some driving tips during three laps of Phoenix's unique one-mile layout.
"We got out there in the pace car, and Kenny was telling me how the race car would be going on track," Beem said. "We were doing about 65, and I was like, 'OK, I think that's fast enough for me."
Following the pace car ride, Beem tried to give Schrader some golf pointers by launching balls from the grassy apron inside Turn 3, to the rocky hillside that overlooks that end of the desert oval.
While Beem's drives soared through the air, Schrader's one and only shot bounced across the asphalt in Turn 3 and over the wall.
Schrader declined to continue, saying, "My first shot is usually my best, and you saw how that was. I have no golfing skills, (so) I think I need to stick to driving the car."
After the shared sessions, each athlete expressed some respect for the other's skills.
"My nickname would be Crash," Beem said. "I'd crash in the first turn so I wouldn't have to drive the whole race."
"I really don't know how he does it out there," Schrader said. "It's just him and the golf ball. At least if something happens in a race, we have about 50 different things we can blame it on."
