INDIANAPOLIS, IN (July 27, 2002) - When the NASCAR Busch Series
visits Indianapolis Raceway Park Saturday, Jack Sprague and his NetZero team
hope proven chassis notes and past on-track success will get them to Victory
Lane in the Kroger 200.
"It was around this time last year that this team began turning things
around in the Truck Series," said Sprague. "We won at New Hampshire a few
weeks before, then went on to win at IRP. IRP has always been good to my
team and me, so hopefully we can use some of our old notes and experience to
get a good run in the NetZero Chevy. We're bringing the same car I won with
at Nashville in June, so we know we have a car capable of winning."
Sprague has had more than his share of success at the .686-mile oval
IRP track. The Spring Lake, MI native has seven NASCAR Craftsman Truck
Series starts there highlighted by two wins - last year's Power Stroke 200
and the 1998 Cummins 200. Sprague also has two NCTS runner-up finishes at
IRP and an average starting spot of sixth despite never winning a Bud Pole
at the track.
"Most tracks are run on the bottom, but at IRP, you run around the
top," Sprague stated. "You run up against the wall almost all the way around
the track and you have to be very careful you don't get into the wall. It's
a lot of fun and a very challenging track. I always look forward to going
back and racing there especially feeling like I can win. It's a track I've
never really had bad luck at and hope it doesn't start now. I can remember
some really great races there. The 1998 event is one of the best I can think
of. The fans were so mad when I beat Ron Hornaday after a heated battle.
It was pretty awesome."
The Kroger 200 will mark Sprague's first visit to IRP in a Busch
Series event. It will be a busy weekend for the talented driver, as he will
also compete in the fourth and final IROC Series race of the 2002 season at
Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The only NCTS driver to ever be invited to race
in the IROC Series, Sprague will be making several trips between the two
tracks Saturday.
"My schedule this week is busy," said Sprague. "We have just enough
time to pack after Colorado and we're off to a two-day test at Kentucky.
I'll test the Cup car and head to Indy for IROC practice, but Saturday is
going to be tough. I'll have to put in a little time in the Busch car and
then jump in a helicopter over to the big track. I know Jeff Green did it
last year and had time for both events, so I know the schedule is at least
doable. I'm just grateful my team understands how important these IROC
races are to me and are willing to work around the schedule. This weekend
will be the last race for me in an IROC car and I'm looking forward to going
out with a really good run."
Sprague enters this weekend's IRP race coming off a 14th-place finish
in the most recent NBS event at Pikes Peak International Raceway. He is
third in the 2002 NBS championship standings heading into the 200-lap IRP
event.
The Kroger 200 will take the green flag Saturday, August 3 at 8 p.m.
Eastern Daylight Time. The event marks the 22nd of 34 NASCAR Busch Series
races this and will be telecast live on TNT. MRN Radio will also broadcast
the race live.
ABOUT NETZERO.
