Schrader proves to be 'Mr Popular.'

The prolonged and largely pointless 'field inversion' process during the middle segment of Saturday's Nextel All-Star Challenge may have gone down like a lead balloon with many in attendance at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte but one of this year's tweaks proved to be highly popular with fans and drivers alike.

Cheery veteran Ken Schrader was the lucky recipient of the first 'Fan's Choice award' after leading eligible drivers in votes cast by the fans via their mobile phones and on the official NASCAR website nascar.com. All drivers had to do to be eligible for selection was finish on the lead lap in the 30-lap Nextel Open. Schrader largely avoided the first lap carnage that eliminated several top runners and brought his #49 BAM Racing Schwans Home Service Dodge home in ninth.

Sadly the sheet metal damage sustained by Schrader, who made his 600th career Nextel Cup start earlier this year meant that he couldn't challenge the front runners in Saturday night's million-dollar extravaganza although he succeeded in keeping his nose out of further trouble and crossed the line in 13th position for one of his biggest purses of the season.