Bad Luck Continues for Jack Sprague and Chevy Trucks Silverado Team

Bristol, TN – Jack Sprague and the Chevy Trucks Silverado team can’t seem to shake the cloud of bad luck that has shrouded the team this season. The driver and team that boast a total of 5 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championships, an extraordinarily impressive record considering the series is only in its 10th season, were struck once again by mechanical failure while running fourth at Bristol Motor Speedway. With just 24 laps remaining in the 200-lap O’Reilly 200 presented by Valvoline Maxlife, Sprague came over the radio and said, “We just blew up again.”

Sprague qualified the No. 16 in the 18th spot and fought a tight condition early in the race. When the caution flew on lap 42, Sprague was within four truck lengths of going a lap down to then leader Shane Hmiel. Team manager Dave Fuge and crew chief Chris Showalter had made the decision to pit for major adjustments regardless of what the leaders decided in an effort to improve the handling for Sprague.

The changes didn’t make a significant improvement but Sprague kept fighting. When the caution flew again on lap 101, Sprague came to pitroad for more adjustments rejoining the field as one of the last trucks on the lead lap. The changes coupled with his fresher tires gave Sprague the tools he needed to start moving through the field. When the caution flew again on lap 151, Sprague had charged to fifth in the order with just 49 laps to go. Sprague took over the fourth spot just before a caution on lap 163. When racing went green on lap 170, Sprague was comfortably in fourth and prepared to make a run to the front in the remaining 30 laps.

“My Chevy Trucks Silverado guys kept making adjustments,” said Sprague. “We almost went a lap down but the cautions fell our way and we were able to keep getting better and better. We were really in good shape and had fresher tires than most of the front-runners. It is just really disappointing for our whole team and everyone from Silverado and GM Racing. We had another solid top-five finish going.”

“We are just going to keep fighting,” concluded Sprague. “There is no one on this team ready to give up. We all are winners and know how to win races and championships. Richmond has been a good track for us; we will just go there with all our guns loaded and see if we can’t change our luck.

As a result of being scored in the 28th finishing position, Sprague fell to 12th in the series point standings, 475 points behind leader Bobby Hamilton but only 240 points behind fifth place Travis Kvapil.

The next NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event is the Kroger 200, September 9 at Richmond International Raceway. Live television coverage will be provided by SPEED TV. MRN and XM Satellite Radio will broadcast the action live over the airwaves. The 200-lap race is scheduled to start at 8:45 PM EDT.