Sprague Comes Home 2nd Once Again in Homestead

“Driver Finishes 8th In Final Point’s Standings”

HOMESTEAD, FL (November 21, 2005) – Jack Sprague and his Wyler Racing team ended the 2005 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season on a high note with solid momentum built up for the 2006 campaign. In the rain delayed season finale, Sprague steered his No. 60 Toyota Tundra to a strong second place finish at the Homestead-Miami Speedway in the running of the Ford 200.

“I really wanted to win out there today and I felt like we had a legitimate shot at doing just that,” said Jack. “However, I was just a little tighter than Todd (Bodine) was in the corner and that was probably the difference. My only shot at beating him was to get by him on the outside, because when you were underneath somebody you would get loose. Todd was trying to take me down to the inside and I was trying to get outside. I thought I had him on that last restart, but I couldn’t get in there, and I was trying to keep Johnny (Benson) behind me. Although we did not win, this was another great run for this No. 60 Tundra team and something positive that we can build on over the winter.”

While the weather in southern Florida played havoc on the track time for the Craftsman Truck Series finale, Sprague showed his dominance right off the trailer by posting speeds near the top of the charts in practice. He would go on to qualify in the third spot – his best effort with the Wyler Racing team. With limited practice time and the race being postponed until early Saturday morning, Sprague would remain strong and move his No. 60 Toyota to the lead by lap 22 of the 134-lap event. He would pit under caution on lap 34 and a great pit stop by the Wyler Racing crew would return Jack to the track as the leader.

Sprague would fall back into the second position once back to green flag racing but he kept his focus on his goal of winning the race. A long green flag run would result in green flag pit stops for the entire field. The No. 60 Toyota would comedown pit road on lap 94 and another strong stop would be knocked off by the crew. However, Jack had lost considerable time to the leader in the long green flag run and returned to the track over seven seconds behind the leader. With the last adjustment made to the No. 60 Tundra, Sprague would be the fastest truck on the track and would quickly track down the leader as the green flag pit cycle concluded.

A few late cautions would bunch up the field and give Jack a few shots at the win. But with clean air, the leader was able to hold off the charge of the No. 60 Toyota and Sprague brought home his third career second place finish at the Homestead track.

“I just could not get past the No. 30 truck as he was very strong as well and that clean air was a big advantage for him,” stated Sprague. “We were our best there at the end but it was still just not enough. These last five races with Wyler Racing and Toyota have been great ones and I think we will be legitimate contenders for the championship next season. We could have won two of these last fives races and that is strong for a team that was brand new at the middle of the season. I am having fun again and cannot wait for the 2006 season.”

Jack finished the 2006 Craftsman Truck Series season eighth in the final driver’s standings. He collected one win (Texas) and one pole (Milwaukee) during the season. He added to his career leading stats in the series with seven top-five and 11 top-ten finishes. He also led a total of 200 laps during the season.