Sprague Kicks Off Season With Top-Five Daytona
Finish
“Late Race Save Highlights Strong
Run”
DAYTONA BEACH, FL (February 20, 2006) – Three
time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champion Jack Sprague
and his Wyler Racing team put together a solid performance
as they guided their No. 60 Con-Way Toyota Tundra to a strong
fifth place finish in the series season opener at the Daytona
International Speedway.
“Our Con-Way Tundra was awesome out there tonight
and this Wyler team put me in a position to be there at the
end,” said Jack. “We battled a loose truck
for the first half of the race but Tony Furr (crew chief)
made the right adjustments to the truck and my pit crew was
awesome as we gained track position every time we came down
pit road. Of course I wanted to win the race and I
had a good shot at it, but a top-five finish at Daytona along
with taking our truck home without a scratch on it is a good
start to the 2006 season.”
Sprague started his Con-Way Toyota for the 100-lap event
from the 7th position despite having a tire go down on him
during his qualifying run. With a strong truck under
him and many Con-Way employees in attendance, Sprague took
the green flag and quickly moved inside the top-three. However,
after a few laps he radioed back to his crew that his Con-Way
truck was extremely loose. Jack would back off from
the lead pack and ride until the first opportunity to come
down pit road – which would come on lap 28.
With a few adjustments made to his truck, Sprague returned
to the track and quickly radioed back that the truck was
a little better but he needed more. Another trip down
pit road on lap 44 allowed for further adjustments which
proved to be just what the No. 60 ride needed. Back
to green flag racing, Sprague darted towards the front of
the field and was in the second position within 10 laps. The
Con-Way Toyota had actually become a little snug for the
3-time champion but that seemed a little to his liking.
A caution on lap 73 saw Jack come down pit road for the
last time for four fresh tires and fuel. Another great
stop by the Wyler Racing crew would return Sprague to the
track in the fifth position. The field would go back
to green flag conditions with just over 20 laps to go in
the 250-mile event. Jack would once again show his
strength by shooting out to the lead on lap 86 before falling
into line in the third spot. With anxieties running
high and the laps dwindling down, Sprague would make a strong
move for the lead with four laps to go. He placed his
No. 60 Con-Way machine down to the inside but only to have
the air taken off his spoiler which resulted in Sprague hooking
the apron – what ensued was no question the best save
of Speedweeks 2006.
“Well that was just something pretty darn exciting,” stated
Sprague. “I am not sure how I was able to save
our truck – I think I had some help from up above. I
knew I had to be aggressive if I wanted to have a chance
at the win and with all of those Con-Way folks in attendance
supporting us I owed it to them to make a move for the win.”
Sprague would save his machine and lose only a few spots
on the field. As other trucks scrambled with Jack’s
save, a few trucks got together and brought out the fourth
caution of the evening. With a green-white-checkered
finish in store, the No. 60 Con-Way Toyota was presented
with one last opportunity to make a run to the front. Unfortunately,
a quick caution would end the drama of the season opening
race – and give Sprague a fifth place finish.
“We came down here to Daytona with a very strong truck
and we leave with a very strong truck,” summarized
Sprague. At Daytona that is always a good feat. This
is the best I’ve ever finished at Daytona and I will
take it. We leave here getting the season off to a
solid start and a little momentum heading into California
next week.”
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series heads west to the California
Speedway for Friday night’s running of the California
200. For more information on Jack and the team, please
visit them at www.wylerracing.com and www.jacksprague.com
