Atlanta Proves Action-Packed for Three-Time Champion Jack Sprague
Hampton, Ga. (October 29, 2007) – Three-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champion Jack Sprague and the No. 60 Con-way Freight Toyota returned to Atlanta Motor Speedway on Saturday carrying momentum after a solid performance in last weekend’s Kroger 200 at Martinsville Speedway and a renewed outlook on the final four races of the year after Rick Gay was named the team’s new Crew Chief on Wednesday.
Without much time to prepare for the EasyCare Vehicle Service Contracts 200, Gay jumped into the leading role without skipping a beat. Under Gay’s guidance, the team posted the 25th place starting position for the 130-lap race after Sprague laid down a lap of 31.365 seconds at a speed of 176.758 miles per hour. After qualifying, Sprague became concerned that his Con-way Freight machine was down on power.
Despite his concern, Sprague strapped in behind the wheel of the Con-way Freight Toyota and made three pace laps around the 1.54-mile oval before NASCAR threw the green flag. Sprague was “loose” in the opening laps, a condition that remained until NASCAR threw the pre-planned competition caution on lap 32 for team to check their tire wear. Sprague hit pit road for four tires, fuel, and significant air pressure and chassis adjustments before returning to the track for green flag racing on lap 36.
Sprague was “still way loose” until the next caution flew on lap 46 for a multi-truck wreck on the frontstretch. Sprague hit pit road for a chassis adjustment and fuel, returning to the track in 25th position. Shortly after the pit stop, Sprague’s radio began to break up but that didn’t keep him from working his way into 24th position by lap 81 when the third caution flag flew for debris.
Sprague dove to pit road under the caution for four tires, fuel, and a new radio, returning to the track in 25th position. On the restart on lap 84, Sprague raced his way into 22nd before keying the radio to tell the crew, “It feels like I have no power”. Even though he felt underpowered, Sprague was holding his own before he was spun out on the backstretch and slammed the inside retaining wall, bringing out the caution on lap 107.
Sprague hit pit road for left side tires and pitted again under the caution for damage repair. When the race restarted on lap 110, Sprague was three laps down to the leaders but rallied to finish 25th.
Sprague is currently 10th in the 2007 Driver Point Standings, only eight points out of ninth and 64 points out of eighth. With three events remaining on the schedule, Sprague still has a solid shot at finishing as high as eighth in the title chase.
Sprague and the Wyler Racing team will take the No. 60 Con-way Freight Toyota Tundra to Texas Motor Speedway for the running of the Silverado 350K on Friday, November 2nd, 2007. Live television coverage from the 1.5-mile tri-oval will be provided by SPEED at 8:30 p.m. ET with radio coverage coming to you live from MRN Radio.
