“They’re both dead now”: NASCAR veteran Ken Schrader recalls $10K fine incident from Darlington 

In a recent episode of The Kenny Wallace Show, former NASCAR driver Ken Schrader recalled a run-in with Morgan Shepherd, known for driving the No. 89 Chevy for Shepherd Racing Ventures in the Xfinity Series back then. The incident at Darlington Raceway got Schrader a $10,000 fine, which the veteran racer apparently never paid.

Schrader, who used to drive for Hendrick Motorsports back then, was having some trouble with Shepherd. 80 laps in, Schrader sat in his car parked on the pit road thinking of getting back at his rival in the following laps. It was a hot day in South Carolina and team owner Rick Hendrick walked up to Schrader, asking if he needed some water to cool off.

“No, I want to stay in here and stay hot and mad,” Schrader told Kenny Wallace about how he reacted to Mr. Hendrick’s offer. “I got him (Shepherd) the second lap back out, andhthey told me (to stay) in the trailer after the race but I didn't stay. I go home.” (0:19)

Later on, Schrader told longtime NASCAR inspector Dick Beaty and Head of Operations for NASCAR Les Richter that it was just an accident. However, that didn’t save him from receiving the $10,000 fine.

“I got a $10k fine and I probably shouldn't say it but they're both dead now so it's okay,” Schrader said as Wallace broke into a fit of laughter. “Beaty and Richter… they said, okay we'll give you $3k a week off if you don't try to kill him. So we never had any run-ins for three weeks. They sent me a bill for $1k and I threw it away and never heard anymore about it.” (0:50)

In another segment of the show, Schrader recalled when he had to call up Dale Earnhardt Jr. and ask for help. The NASCAR Hall of Famer, also a two-time Xfinity Series champion, was taken aback by what Schrader had asked of him.

Ken Schrader’s “pretty important bargaining tool” Ft. Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Ken Schrader was with his wife Ann in Virginia on a laid-back day when a major problem occurred; the couple ran out of vodka. Schrader wasn’t ready to leave booze out of the picture and in an instant, thought of calling Dale Earnhardt Jr., who owns High Rock Vodka, in collaboration with Sugarlands Distilling Company.

“We called Dale Jr. a couple years ago,” Schrader told Wallace. “We were doing play days out in Virginia and called him up and said we got a problem.”

Who would have imagined that this “problem” Schrader was talking about was just a shortage of alcohol? Dale Jr. thought Schrader needed him to send over a plane or wire money. Instead, Schrader hit him with,

“Well, we’re up here in Virginia, Ann’s out of vodka.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr. was left in utter disbelief. But Schrader continued,

“Now, we don’t need it tonight. But we’re gonna need it pretty quick!”

This had Kenny Wallace laugh uncontrollably, yet again. It was indeed a hilarious exchange between the two NASCAR stalwarts, who were otherwise known for being fierce competitors on the track.