Jack Sprague Suffers Broken Heel

Three-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champion Plans to Start American Racing Wheels 200

FONTANA, CA – Jack Sprague, driver of the No. 16 Chevy Trucks Xpress Motorsports Silverado, sustained a broken heel on his left foot in an accident at his Charlotte-area home on Wednesday, February 23, 2005. Sprague was performing home maintenance on gutters when he lost his footing on a frozen patch of the roof.

Sprague will practice the No. 16 very minimally turning the driving duties over to NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Chevrolet Monte Carlo driver Mike Bliss for the majority of the practice as well as qualifying. Sprague will start the American Racing Wheels 200 Friday night at California Speedway with Bliss standing by in the pits to relieve Sprague, should he be unable to complete the 100 lap event.

“This certainly isn’t good timing for this to happen,” said Sprague. “But this Chevy Trucks team is strong. Chris (Showalter, crew chief) and everyone on the Chevy Trucks Team have worked hard to get this team in position to be a serious championship contender this season.

“We have discussed this at length with Dave (Fuge, team owner) and the entire crew to make the correct decisions for the good of the team. This isn’t going to hurt our chances for race wins and the championship.

“I am going to limit my time in the truck prior to the race and will be behind the wheel of my Chevy Trucks Silverado when the green flag flies. I will stay in the truck as long as I feel I am competitive. If I feel I am not competitive and I need to get out, we have a great driver in Bliss standing by and he can wheel it to the front. The key is to make sure we don’t lose a lap making the driver change.”

Sprague is the only three-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) champion winning the crown in 1997, 1999 and 2001. He is a two-time NCTS race winner at California Speedway and has scored four top-five and five top-10 finishes in six starts at the Fontana two-mile oval.

Bliss won the 2002 NCTS championship driving for Xpress Motorsports. He has 144 NCTS starts, scored 12 wins, 49 top-five and 82 top-10 finishes. One of the Oregon native’s NCTS victories came at California Speedway in October 1997.

For more information on Jack Sprague and the No. 16 Chevy Trucks Silverado team, log on to www.jacksprague.com.