Ken Schrader #25 Kodiak Chevrolet

    Ken Schrader was always a favorite of mine, although he often times let me down on race day~ His main problem was he was too cautious with his car, and wouldn't ever go for the win in the way he should have~ I remember countless times where I thought he was going to win the race, only to be intimidated by someone else, who would steal the win away~ In today's post, I'm gonna be going back to his time in the #25 Kodiak Chevrolet, and looking at his time in his most successful NASCAR ride~

    After several winless seasons with long time Cup owner Junie Donlavey, Schrader found himself in a lucky position to start the 1988 Winston Cup season~ Veteran driver Tim Richmond was out of his ride, due to contracting the AIDS virus, and car owner Rick Hendrick pegged Schrader to drive his #25 Folger's car to replace the ailing Richmond~

    In his first race with the team, Schrader put the #25 Folger's car on the pole in the 1988 Daytona 500, and would finish in 6th place~ He also won his first Cup race this season, in the DieHard 500 @ Talladega~ He won again the following season, in the All Pro Auto Parts 50 @ Charlotte~

                                            Ken poses with the Kodiak car @ Daytona~

    His first time in the #25 Kodiak car came in the 1990 Daytona 500, where again, he put the car on the pole~ However, engine issues had him out of the race by lap 58, resulting in a 40th place showing~ He also won the pole in the Coca-Cola 600 @ Charlotte (finished 11th), and the AC Delco 500 @ Rockingham (finished 5th), although he wasn't able to reach victory lane during the season~ He was able to get a couple of runner up finishes, in the Budweiser 500 @ Dover, and the Checker 500 @ Phoenix~

    The 1991 season was arguably his best in the Cup series, picking up wins in the Motorcraft Quality Parts 500 @ Atlanta, and the Budweiser 500 @ Dover~ He also finished runner up in the GM Goodwrench 500 @ Rockingham, and the Coca-Cola 600 @ Charlotte~ He finished out the season with 2 wins, 10 top 5's, and 18 top 10's, while finishing 9th in the final points standings~

                                               Ken stands with good friend Dale Earnhardt~

    With the start of the 1992 season, Ken Schrader would start on a winless streak that would last the remainder of his career~ I don't think anyone could have predicted this.. I know I didn't~ Up until the end of the 1991 season, he had been getting consistently better, and I figured he at least win a race or two for several more seasons~ But this wasn't the case, as Schrader finished the 1992 season with 0 wins, 4 top 5's, 11 top 10's, and a pole in the Champion Spark Plug 500 @ Pocono~ He also fell to 17th in the final points standings.. slipping 8 spots from the previous season~

    While Schrader didn't win again in the Cup series, he still had a moderately productive season in 1993~ He picked up a career high 6 poles (Richmond, Charlotte, both Pocono races, Michigan, and Darlington), while also scoring 9 top 5's, and 15 top 10's, while improving to 9th in the final points standings~

    The 1994 Cup season was his last season driving the Kodiak car, and he had a somewhat decent year~ While he didn't win any races, or pole positions, he consistently ran strong all season, picking up 9 top 5's, and 18 top 10's~ He also finished a career best 4th place in the final points standings~ Following this season, he would remain with the #25 Hendrick team, but the team would receive sponsorship from Budweiser~ Schrader would remain with Hendrick until the start of the 1997 Cup season, when he was released from the team, and picked up by Andy Petree's #33 Skoal Bandit team~

                                                     Ken Schrader #25 Kodiak Chevolet~

                                                                 Click pics to enlarge~

                                                     Custom pics with Kodiak logos~

                                                                Click pics to enlarge~

    I know, I know.. the customs look like crap~ lol~ I did the best I could with them, but I just couldn't make them look as good as some of them that I've done~ I guess it still looks better than just a plain car with no logos on it~ I know it wasn't Racing Champions' fault, but I just can't stand seeing a plain car~ Never once when I was a kid watching the race, did I see Ken's Kodiak car and think "That Kodiak car makes me wanna chew some tobacco", or "That Rusty Wallace Miller car makes me wanna drink a beer"~

   I'm not very fond of this car at all, and only bought it because it's part of the set~ I wish I had smaller hands, so I could just order some decals, and make the car look like it should, but my hands are too big, and I rip the decals every time.. so what's the point?~ I give this car a D- on the Racing Champions quality scale, which I believe is the lowest grade I've ever given~ I hated his diecast as a child, and I still hate it to this day~

   As I said earlier, I really can't believe that Schrader only won 4 Cup races~ To think that Kyle Petty has double the wins as Schrader does is purely mind boggling~ No disrespect to Kyle, but in my opinion, Schrader is 1000 times a better driver than Kyle was.. statistics prove otherwise, however~ Below I have added some clips from Ken's career, enjoy them, and as always.. thank you all for stopping by the blog~ :)

                                                           All of Schrader's Cup wins~

                                                       Top 10 Ken Schrader crashes~

                                                                  Schrader on fire~

                                         Schrader and Michael Waltrip racing lawnmowers~

B.D. McClure #92 Collector's World Pontiac

    Welcome back to the NASCAR Racing Champions blog~ Today's post is gonna be a rather unique one, and I'm not really sure how I'm gonna go about it.. but I'm sure it'll all work out when all is said and done~ I say this because today's post is on B.D. McClure, and the #92 Collector's World Pontiac~ If you're not familiar with the name, don't feel bad.. Mr. McClure has turned out to be the hardest person to find information on that I've ever come across in the Racing Champions diecast world~ Even more so than Stanley Smith~ With that being said, I'll work with what I've got, and make a go of this thing~

    I'll start this off by saying that I'm not even sure when Collector's World magazine was founded~ I'm almost certain the first issue was put out in May of 1991~ B.D. McClure was the founder of the company, and he also had owned a NASCAR memorabilia store near Charlotte for several years~ As with Robert Griggs and his Winston Cup Scene magazine, McClure saw the potential of the growing NASCAR memorabilia market, and decided the NASCAR world needed an official price guide for the many articles of NASCAR memorabilia that had entered the up and coming market~

                                Rusty Wallace on the cover of Collector's World - June 1993~

    Back in 1991, the NASCAR scene was red hot, and you could find your favorite drivers name or number on just about anything~ Anything that was remotely related to NASCAR was also made into memorabilia~ Being the clever man that he was, McClure jumped in just at the right time, with his new magazine instantly turning into a major success story~

    I can remember being a kid, when my father was the supervisor for the Food Country USA grocery chain.. I would always look at the new magazines every month~ I remember looking through many of the Collector's World ones, as well as the Beckett price guides every month to see how much the Butch Miller #75 Food Country Racing Champions 1/24 scale was worth~ Back then it was worth quite a bit more than it is now, but it's still way up there as far as Racing Champions 1/24's go~

                                Dale Earnhardt on the cover of Collector's World - December 1993~

     If you're new to NASCAR diecast collecting, that's probably not a bad thing~ During the 1990's, NASCAR diecast, and basically anything NASCAR related demanded quite a high price tag~ As companies like Racing Champions, and Winner's Circle started getting out of the NASCAR diecast market, the new cars started getting even more expensive~ Although they had much better detail, I found it preposterous to pay $125.00 for a NASCAR diecast~

    Many people (myself included) got out of collecting diecasts around this time~ I only got back into it last summer, when I noticed how cheap they were again at the local flea markets, and thrift stores~ I guess so many people got out of collecting them, that it just killed the market value.. which is awesome if you're buying, but completely gut wrenching for someone who had bought their collection during the price gouging days of the 1990's~

                                             B.D. McClure custom Racing Champions card~

    Although B.D. McClure got into the market at the right time, and became an overnight success, time was not on his side~ I'm not sure how it happened, but I do know that he died in 1992~ I was also able to find out that he was born in 1943, so he was either 48, or 49 years old when he died~ The business continued, at least until 1995.. although I'm not sure who took over after Mr. McClure passed away~

    As I said earlier, this guy was so tough to find information on~ He's like the D.B. Cooper of the NASCAR world~ I couldn't find 1 single picture of him on the internet, and I even asked some people in several Facebook groups if they had any pics or information on him, but got no reply~ The small amount of information in this post took me 2 days to gather up~ I at least wanted to find 1 picture of him to use for his Racing Champions card, but it just didn't happen~ This blog post will be a shrine for anyone who remembers him, or is just trying to find out information on who he was~

                                             B.D. McClure #92 Collector's World Pontiac~

                                                              Click pics to enlarge~

    I wish I could start off this review by filling you in on how this car came about, but I just can't find out any details~ On the deck lid of the car, it says "In Memory of B.D. McClure", so it obviously came out after his death in 1992~ I would also assume that this is why the car is number 92~

    The car came in a clear PVC box, and was stamped 1 of 5,000 made, so there aren't a whole lot of these out there~ I absolutely love the car, and I wish I knew who designed it~ If you have it on display with other cars, it definitely stands out like a sore thumb~ This thing is bright, and vibrant all the way~ Although the colors are bright and vivid, the car isn't shiny, and has sort of a matte finish to it~

    I'm gonna have to give this car an A- on the Racing Champions scale of quality, due to it's lack of a card and stand~ Of all the people to not make a card for, this has to be the worst choice~ A card along with this car would have been a cherished accent to go along with the car.. but it just wasn't meant to be~ I did the best I could with the card, but I'm not pleased with it at all, it's just the best I could find~ Thank you all for stopping by the blog again!~ I've added some random NASCAR clips below since I'm never gonna find any B.D. McClure videos~ Until next time, stay alive.. don't drink and drive~ :)

                                             1989 Mountain Dew 200 @ Hickory highlights~

                                            Dave Stacy flips into Lake Lloyd @ Daytona~

                                             Poor ol' Casey Atwood's career in a nutshell~

 Finish of the 1993 Kroger 200 @ IRP~

Brad Teague #75 U-Can-Rent Oldsmobile

    I don't think there's any doubt that Racing Champions made a TON of NASCAR die-casts~ But I often find myself thinking of the cars they didn't make, that I'd like to have in my collection~ With the magic of Photoshop, I've been able to simulate what these cars would have looked like, and today I'd like to share with you my very first Racing Champions "fantasy car" blog post~ We'll be looking at my favorite driver Brad Teague, and his time in the #75 U-Can-Rent/Food Country Oldsmobile, from the 1990 BGN season~ So as YouTube's Adam the Woo would say.. Join me, shall you?~

    The history of this car is confusing as can be~ The car was driven in parts of the 1990 BGN season by Teague for its first 5 events, then Ernie Irvan in its next 5, and Jimmy Spencer drove the last 2 races it entered~ The sponsorship dissolved before the season ended, and Spencer drove 2 more races towards the end of the season in the #75 car with sole sponsor, Food Country U.S.A.~

    Brad's first race in the car was in the season opening Goody's 300 @ Daytona~ He qualified a very impressive 5th place, but was caught up in the first caution of the day, in what was one of the biggest pile ups I've ever seen in the BGN series~ In total, 23 cars were involved in the wreck, with Teague receiving loads of damage, which ended his day, and resulted in a 31st place finish~

                               The 1990 Goody's 300 crash~ Teague can be seen at the far left~
                                                      Photo is owned by Brian Cleary~

    Teague next drove the car in the Goodwrench 200 @ Rockingham, and once again qualified the car in the top 5, with a seasons best 4th place starting spot~ However, the car was plagued with issued during the race, with Teague finishing in 24th place, 3 laps off the pace of race winner Dale Earnhardt~

    The team next raced in the Pontiac 200 @ Darlington, where Teague started the race in 7th place~ The car just wasn't up to par during the race, but he still managed to pull out a seasons best 15th place finish~ Harry Gant won the race, driving the #7 Skoal car for legendary BGN car owner Ed Whitaker~

    Long time BGN car owner Charlie Henderson, who was also the owner of the Food Country U.S.A. grocery store chain, was well known to lose his temper when his driver didn't do well in certain races~ You had to make the field at Bristol, you had to not crash the car at Bristol, and you had to run well at events where the sponsor of the car was also sponsoring the race~ If not, you were gonna get canned, without notice~

                                             Custom Brad Teague Racing Champions card~

   I say this because the next event for the team was the U-Can-Rent 200 @ Lanier Speedway~ Brad qualified very poorly, with a 26th place starting position,  and never was able to get a feel for the track during the race~ He did manage to finish in 16th place, albeit 3 laps down to race winner Chuck Bown, who snapped a winless streak dating back to 1986 @ Oxford Plains~ Bown led all 200 laps in the event~

    Teague was likely cussed out by Henderson for his poor showing @ Lanier, and given an ultimatum that he either run very well in the next event, or he was out the door~ He next raced in the Roses Stores 200 @ South Boston, and qualified the car 23rd in the 30 car field~ The car ran poorly the entire race, and Teague only managed to move up 1 spot, finishing in 22nd place, 5 laps down~

Chuck Bown also won this race, leading 71 of the 200 laps~ Henderson responded by immediately firing Teague, who ran 1 more race during the 1990 season, driving the #0 Parkway Gas Oldsmobile in the Granger Select 200 @ Dublin, where he finished in 15th place~

                                                      Ernie Irvan stands beside the #75 car~

    Ernie Irvan then drove the car for 5 events, starting with the Champions 300 @ Charlotte~ He started the race in 39th, and finished in 40th after dealing with wheel bearing problems~ He led for 6 laps in the Budweiser 200 @ Dover before being caught up in a wreck on lap 147 while he was leading, resulting in a 26th place finish~

    Irvan best race in the car came in the Kroger 200 @ IRP~ He started the race in 25th, and although he didn't lead a lap, he crawled his way to a runner up finish~ This would be the highest finish for any driver in the #75 U-Can-Rent car~ Steve Grissom won the race, which was his 2nd career BGN win~ He won his first BGN race the week before @ Dublin Speedway~

    Jimmy Spencer drove the #75 U-Can-Rent car in its final 2 BGN entries~ He led 2 laps in the Ames/Splitfire 200 @ Dover after starting in 26th, but was involved in a crash resulting in a 27th place finish~ His finest moment in the car came in the Zerex 150 @ Martinsville, where he rolled off in the 10th position, and finished in 6th place~ This was also the final race for sponsor "U-Can-Rent", and the team would run the rest of the season with Food Country as the sole sponsor~

                                               Brad Teague #75 U-Can-Rent Oldsmobile~

                                                             Click pics to enlarge~

                                                               U-Can-Rent Racing hat~

    Well, here she is~ I wish so much that this was real, but it's just an illusion.. dreamed up in my mind, and brought to life by Photoshop, as an image on a blog~ I'm not the worst in the world at Photoshop, but I'm probably one of the worst at making custom cars in real life~ I tend to rip decals, a lot.. and I can't paint worth a darn~ My hands were designed to do physical labor, or type stuff.. they just weren't made to deal with tiny objects, or little paint brushes~ I have the eyes for it, but not the hands~

    Looking at this car makes me so incredibly happy~ It instantly brings me back to my childhood, as I can recall this time period very vividly~ I used to hang out at the Food Country race team shop, and Brad was always there.. I felt like a rock star!~ I was too little to know that he wasn't the best driver out there.. but I was old enough to know he was a race car driver, and I was standing beside him..  he was talking to me... it was some of the greatest memories of my life~

    And it wasn't that Brad wasn't one of the best driver out there.. he just didn't ever have a quality ride in the BGN or Cup series~ Brad is a heck of a driver.. I've witnessed it many times at local tracks, when he's got a good car, he's a beast~ You could put Brad Teague in a decent car right now, and he'd make the field at Bristol, and he'd probably get a top 10 finish~ If you look at the teams he drove for near the end of his career, you'll see that he was getting more out of the cars than anyone else they put in them~

    Although this car is only a "fantasy car" that I made up, it is one of the most beautiful Racing Champions cars I've ever seen~ Take away the bias, and I still feel the same way~ It's an amazing looking race car~ I've always said sweet and simple does it best with NASCAR paint schemes, and this car proves that~ I without any bias, give this car an A+ on the Racing Champions "fantasy car" quality scale~ It truly is a wonderful piece of art, as well as NASCAR BGN history~

    Thank you all for stopping by the blog, whether it's your first time, or you're a long time reader.. it is nice to know someone else out there cares about Racing Champions cars, and old NASCAR history~ Below are some clips of Brad Teague's career.. at least what's on YouTube~  Enjoy!~ :)

    **UPDATE** I finally got a real custom version of the car in the mail today~ Here are the pics of the car, as well as the back of the card~

                                                                Click pics to enlarge~

                                                                     Back of card~

                                                         The 1990 Goody's 300 crash~

  1990 Kroger 200 featuring Irvan in the #75 U-Can-Rent~

                                  Brad Teague crashes in the 1994 Mountain Dew Southern 500~

                                   1987 Firecracker 400 - Tim Richmond/Brad Teague crash~