Never one to back down from a challenge, it’s no surprise that Ken Schrader was in the lineup for the inaugural Lime Rock 50 on Oct. 16, 1993, LRP’s first NASCAR event.

It’s also no surprise that the veteran of 984 starts in NASCAR’s top three divisions took home the trophy. The Missouri native qualified second in his Kodiak Chevrolet Lumina, took the lead of the NASCAR Busch North Series event on lap 8, and dominated the remainder of the race.

Skoal Bandit Pontiac driver Curtis Markham won the pole with a lap of 54.894-seconds and led until dropping out with transmission trouble after seven laps.

Schrader had one mid-race scare. Ken Wallace Jr. blew by him on lap 22, but Schrader needed only five laps before he returned the favor when he went to the outside of a lapped car and regained the lead on lap 27. The popular NASCAR veteran led the rest of the way, winning by two seconds. Schrader won $85,000 for the 50-lap race.

Wallace – son of Wilkes-Barre Pa. car dealer Ken Wallace Sr. – had had best career finish, second in the T.G.I. Lumina.

Bobby Gada finished third, followed by Kelly Moore with Richard Moore and Andy Santerre. Future NASCAR Hall of Famer Mike Stefanik placed eighth.

The lone open wheel/sports car “ringer” was Brian Bonner, who placed 31st for Bahre Racing. Butch Leitzinger – who was to dominate future NASCAR races at LRP – failed to qualify in his father’s Ford Thunderbird.

NASCAR makes its return to Lime Rock Park June 27-28 for the LIUNA 150, debuting the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series.

For tickets and event information visit: https://limerock.com/events/nascar/