Jack Sprague California Race Preview

NO. 16 CHEVY TRUCKS SILVERADO

XPRESS MOTORSPORTS
2005 FAST FACTS
EVENT: AMERICAN RACING WHEELS 200, CALIFORNIA SPEEDWAY (100 LAPS/200 MILES)

DATE: FEBRUARY 25, 2005 TIME: 6:15 PM PST (9:15 PM EST)

LIVE COVERAGE: SPEED Channel, MRN Radio, and XM Satellite Radio

• Only three-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champion – 1997, 1999, 2001
• Leading NCTS money winner exceeding $5 million in winnings-only driver in series history to exceed $5 million mark
• Only driver to start all 170 events as NCTS full-time competitor 1995-2001
• Holds series records for total top-five (108 – 54.5%) and top-ten (148 – 74.7%) finishes (198 starts)
• Holds series records for most races with lead lap finishes (152-76.8%) and races running at the finish (177-89.4%) (198 starts)
• Second on all time NCTS win list with 24 (needs 2 wins to tie, 3 to be all-time series winner)
• Second on all time NCTS starts list – 198
• Has won most poles in NCTS history - 26
• Has won from the pole five times in NCTS competition (198 starts)
• Has started in top-three 73 times resulting in 41 top-three finishes (56.2%) (198 starts) 19 wins; 15 seconds; 7 third
• Has started in top-five 103 times resulting in 65 top-five finishes (63.1%) (198 starts) 20 wins; 22 seconds; 9 thirds; 6 fourths; 8 fifths
• Has started in top-ten 159 times resulting in 126 top-ten finishes (79.2%) (198 starts) 23 wins; 30 seconds; 17 thirds; 11 fourths; 15 fifths; 6 sixths; 5 sevenths; 8 eighths; 6 ninths; 5 tenths
• Has only started out of the top-fifteen 17 times (198 starts) (8.5%)
• Has only finished out of the top-fifteen 34 times (198 starts) (17.2%)
  

2004 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

*Won inaugural event at Mansfield Motorsports Park *Won six poles, set three new track records

JACK SPRAGUE QUOTES:

ON DAYTONA: (Sprague was involved in an eight-truck incident as the white flag flew on the 100-lap race) - “Man, I tell ya, that was the smartest race we have ever run. We just rode around in our Chevy Trucks Silverado all night in the back with a group of trucks I knew we could draft well with when it was time to go to the front. We were all set to get the best finish we’ve ever had at Daytona. Chris (Showalter, crew chief) and this entire Chevy Trucks crew worked so hard and we had the best truck a driver could ask for here. Man I hate it for everyone on our team and all the people at Chevrolet that give us such great support for this program. We were headed to the front and had something for them there at the end.”

ON 2005 NCTS SEASON: "I said it a bunch last year and it is even more true this year, this is not the old NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. The level of the competition in 2004 was strong, this year; the intensity level has gone way up. We have a stronger group of veterans hungry to run up front and win. The group of young guys wanting to make a name for themselves is stronger than ever. Every lap of every race is going to be critical to make a run for wins, which ultimately translates to a run for the championship. It is going to be the best season yet for the Series and I am excited to be a part of it.

“Yes, I am excited about racing against by old buddy Ron Hornaday, but it is even better to have him as a part of our factory Chevrolet Silverado team program. His experience and talent will bring even that much more to the table to get our Chevy Trucks Silverado up front as well as the other three trucks."

ON RACING AT CALIFORNIA SPEEDWAY: "Since the first NCTS race at California Speedway, I have loved that track. I have had pretty good luck there. It is a fun track to race. It is one of those places that we could come race more than once a season and I would be happy! It is a great track and the races are always good for the fans.

"Having back to back races this year rather than such a gap as last year is better for everyone. It is much easier to get a momentum going and keep it going when the races are closer together."

SPRAGUE 2005 NCTS RESULTS

DATE TRACK ST/FIN LAPS STATUS MONEY POINTS POSITION

2/15 Daytona 15/13 99/100 Accident $16,465 13th

SPRAGUE PREVIOUS CALIFORNIA SPEEDWAY NCTS STATS

YEAR ST/FIN LAPS STATUS WINNINGS

1997 2/6 100/100 Running $11,225

1998 12/1 100/100 Running $42,775

1999 3/1 100/100 Running $43,950

2000 11/4 100/100 Running $16,880

2001 6/31 27/100 Accident $ 9,490

2004 14/3 100/100 Running $23,515

SPRAGUE NCTS STATS YEAR BY YEAR

YEAR STARTS WINS TOP-FIVE TOP-TEN POLES MONEY WON YEAR END PNTS POS

1995 20 0 4 15 1 $116, 501 5TH

1996 24 5 18 21 2 $580,112 2ND

1997 26 3 16 23 5 $880,835 1ST

1998 27 5 16 23 4 $745,171 2ND

1999 25 3 16 19 1 $834,016 1st

2000 24 3 13 15 0 $567,536 5th

2001 24 4 15 17 7 $967,493 1st

2003 2 0 2 2 0 $ 26,250 N/A

2004 25 1 8 13 6 $532,741 7th

Totals: 197 24 (12.2%) 108 (54.8%) 148 (75.1%) 26 $5,250,655

NASCAR BUSCH SERIES STATS

108 1 12 24 2 $1,063,033

NASCAR NEXTEL CUP SERIES STATS

24 0 0 0 0 $1,361,200

THE RACEDAY CREW:

Team Manager/Spotter: Dave Fuge

Crew Chief: Chris Showalter

Jackman: Steve Hill

Gasman: Chuck Day

Front Tire Changer: Scott Punch

Rear Tire Changer: Michael Byrd

Engineer: Greg Erwin

Engine Maintenance: Bobby Jones

Front Tire Carrier: Jeff Galati

Rear Tire Carrier: Randy Dean

2nd Gascan/Gas Runner: Tom Gomez

Catchcan: George Stone

Tire Specialist: Sara Dykehouse

Scorer: Lindsey Sprinkle

Statistician: Dawn Fuge

Pit Support/Catch tires: Terry Lynch