Jack Sprague #16 IWX Racing Chevy Trucks
Silverado Mansfield Advance
JACK
SPRAGUE
#16 IWX RACING CHEVY TRUCKS SILVERADO
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES
2004 FAST FACTS
EVENT: GM/UAW250 – 250 laps, 100 miles – Mansfield Motorsports
Speedway
DATE: May 16, 2004
TIME: SPEED Channel TV Live coverage: 2:00 PM ET
• Only three-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champion – 1997,
1999, 2001
•
Leading NCTS money winner exceeding $4.7 million in winnings
•
Only driver to start all 170 events as NCTS full-time competitor 1995-2001
•
Holds series records for total top-five and top-ten finishes in NCTS
•
Holds series records for most lead lap finishes (138-78.9%) and races running
at the finish (159-90.9%) in NCTS
•
Second on all time NCTS win list (needs 3 wins to tie, 4 to be all-time series
winner)
•
IWX Racing defending NCTS Championship team
•
IWX Racing winner of two consecutive NCTS championships – 2002 and 2003
SPRAGUECAREER NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES STATISTICS
STARTS POLES WINS TOP-FIVE TOP-TEN
175 21 23 (13.2%) 101 (57.7%) 136 (77.7%)
SPRAGUE PREVIOUS MANSFIELD MOTORSPORTS SPEEDWAY STATISTICS
DATE ST/FIN LAPS STATUS
INAGURAL EVENT
SPRAGUE 2004 NCTS STATS
DATE RACE ST/FIN LAPS STATUS MONEY POINTS POS
2/13/04 Daytona 19/25 73/100 Running/Accident $15,765 25
3/13/04 Atlanta 19/24 129/133 Running/Mechanical $9,690 25
4/17/04 Martinsville 1/3 254/250 Running $21,615 12
Jack Sprague quotes:
On Martinsville Pole and Third Place Finish: “Winning our first pole
together and the third place finish is a momentum builder for this #16 Chevy
Trucks team; we will take it and head for Ohio. I am just so proud of all my
guys, they have really pulled together and we are headed in the right direction
with this Chevy Trucks team. Leading toward the end of the race was the place
to be. When you are leading the race (Jack led the most laps, 118) you can
dictate your pace and your race, and run the corners the way you want. I could
arch the truck the way I wanted but near the end when I was racing with others
in the lead pack, there were fewer options to choose the preferred line and
I had to be more defensive. We are happy with our entire weekend and ready
for the rest of the season.”
On first race at Mansfield: “I haven’t seen the track but my understanding
it is similar to one of the local North Carolina short tracks I have run over
the years. Based on our Martinsville run and testing we did at South Boston,
I am confident our Chevy Trucks Silverado will be well prepared when we get
to Ohio. NASCAR is giving us a test day on Friday as well so we will be able
to fine-tune a few things before we practice and qualify on Saturday.
“This is a new market for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. It is always
exciting to go to a new track and a new area. The fans are very enthusiastic
which makes the event that much more fun for the drivers and the teams.
“This track is not to far from my hometown in Michigan so I will have several
family members and friends coming to the event. There might be a little extra
pressure to want to have an exceptional weekend to showcase this Chevy Trucks
team to everyone, I know pressure is something everyone on this team has handled
before so I am just looking forward to having a great run and a lot of fun.”
Jack Sprague on recent Chicago test: “We spend most of this week in
Chicagoland Speedway at a Chevrolet test. It was tremendously beneficial for
all the Chevrolet Silverado teams who were there. Chevrolet has gone above
and beyond this season to provide us with every available technological tool.
We were able to work closely with the areo specialist who is dedicated exclusively
to the Silverado teams as well as the Chevrolet shock specialist. By having
several of the top Silverado teams at the test, we were able to share information,
try different packages to see how they responded to each Silverado. Every Silverado
team left with valuable information that will payoff for us at the upcoming
Charlotte and Texas races.”
THE RACEDAY CREW:
Team Manager: Dave Fuge
Crew Chief: Chris Showalter
Jackman: Randy Dean
Gasman: John Figler
Front tire changer: George Stone
Rear tire changer: Chris Showalter
Front tire carrier: Jeffrey Reeves
Rear tire carrier: Billy Fredell
2nd gascan: Tom Gomez
Catchcan: Jason Pasch
Scorer: Sara Dykehouse
Statistician: Dawn Fuge
Spotter: Dave Fuge
Engineer: Shane Martin
THE #16 CHEVY TRUCKS TEAM OHIO CONNECTION:
Chris Showalter is a native of Amherst, OH and is the only individual who has
attended every NCTS event since the 1995 inaugural season.
John Figler is a native of Elyria, OH.
