Sprague Hangs Tough for Solid Finish at Mansfield

MANSFIELD, OHIO (May 26, 2008) --- Jack Sprague and the No. 2 American Commercial Lines (ACL) Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) Chevrolet recorded a seventh-place finish Saturday in the Ohio 250 at Mansfield Motorsports Park (MMP). Sprague’s run moves him up two positions in the point standings to 11th place only 105 markers behind first place.  Sprague overcame a mid-race incident and right-front fender damage to charge into the top 10 late in the race.

“This race makes me really proud of my guys.” said Sprague. “We took the time to work on our truck and fix the damage we got.  We had a really good strategy today and I think had we not been collected in a lapped truck’s issues then we would have been there in contention at the end.  But that is what makes championship teams; being able to overcome adversity.  We are going to get us a win soon.” 

Starting from the 10th position Sprague fought a loose-handling race truck early. The team had a plan from the beginning to only pit once, and a caution on lap 68 played right into their strategy.  The team made their first scheduled pit stop on lap 72 for four tires, fuel, a track bar and air pressure adjustment. They would be able to make it to the finish on fuel but varying fuel strategies meant Sprague restarted in the 24th position.

Sprague patiently and methodically began to move his way back up through the field.  By lap 110 he had moved up 10 spots to the 14th position.  However, a miscue by a lapped truck on lap 115 collected Sprague. The contact resulted in a flat right-front tire and tore the right-front fender off the No. 2 ACL Chevrolet.  The team made three pit stops to change right side tires, remove the fender damage and fix the tow of the truck.  Sprague restarted on lap 123 in the 28th position.  Determined not to stay in the back of the pack, Sprague made a charge to the front and less than 50 laps later was scored in the 10th position.    

A string of six caution flags in the last 75 laps did not help Sprague, whose truck was better on longer runs.  Sprague continued to battle trying to make his way into the top-five.  Nevertheless, the laps ran out and the No. 2 ACL Chevrolet crossed the finish line in the seventh position. Sprague and team continue to build momentum as this marked his third top-10 finish in the last five races.

 

STATS RECAP

Race Info

May 24, 2008

Mansfield (Ohio) Motorsports Park

Ohio 250

Race: 7 of 25

Driver: Jack Sprague

Started:  10th

Finished: 7th

Truck Series Point Standings: 11th (+2)

Next on the Schedule for the No. 2:

Date: May 30, 2008

Track: Dover (Del.) International Speedway

Event Name: AAA Insurance 200

Driver: Jack Sprague

Broadcast Time: 7:30 p.m., EST on SPEED. Live on MRN at 5:00 p.m., EST.