Sprague Puts Chevy Trucks Silverado on Martinsville Pole

Three time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) champion Jack Sprague put the #16 Chevy Trucks Silverado on the pole for Saturday's NCTS Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway. Sprague's 20.499 second, 92.375 MPH lap is the first pole of the 2004 season for Team Silverado. Four of the top-ten qualifiers for the 250 lap race are Bowtie drivers with Sprague on the pole; Shane Hmiel will start the Earl Small's Harley Davidson Silverado in seventh; Andy Petree put the Monaco Coaches Silverado in the ninth starting spot; and Dennis Setzer will start his #46 Chevrolet Silverado sponsored truck in the tenth position.

Jack Sprague, No. 16 Chevrolet Silverado (Pole Sitter)

Kroger 250 Martinsville Speedway 20.499 Sec 92.375 MPH

21st Career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Pole, 1st Pole of 2004 Season for Chevrolet Silverado.

“What a surprise-Martinsville is the last place I ever thought I would get a pole. My #16 Chevy Trucks Silverado is awesome. When we tested at Greenville last week, I really worked on my discipline to drive this track correctly. There are a lot of guys like (Mike) Skinner and (Bobby) Hamilton who really have it going on here, they have won here and know what it takes to get around Martinsville. My forte has always been the bigger tracks, a mile and a mile and a half tracks. I have run good here but never led a lap or won here. A win here would be big for our Chevy Trucks team. We qualified in race setup so I know what I am going to have in race trim which is a great way to start happy hour. Winning this pole is a big achievement for our team. We are proud to get Silverado their first pole this season. Things didn’t go like we would have wanted at Atlanta or Daytona, but we went back to the shop, went through everything, put our heads together and went to work even harder.

The key to the race is to stay out of trouble until it is time to go race for the win. The second groove here is good so if (Chad) Chaffin (starts outside front row next to Sprague) gets off turn four better than I do, he will lead the first lap. If I can stay solid on the bottom and get off turn four good, I will lead the first lap. The key is to stay near the front, have good pit stops and stay out of trouble to run for the win at the end of the race. Like I said, I have a great truck, my team is working hard. We unloaded just like we tested at Greenville last week and we kept doing all the things we learned there that worked. It would be a big win for us and Chevrolet if we can pull it off tomorrow.”