Engine Woes Dampen Spark for Sprague at Kentucky

SPARTA, Ky. (July 21, 2008) --- Jack Sprague and the No. 2 American Commercial Lines (ACL) Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) Chevrolet team started the Built Ford Tough 225 Saturday evening from the fifth position, but early engine problems resulted in Sprague losing two laps to finish in the 22nd position.

“We had motor trouble in final practice and qualifying, but we really thought the problem would cure itself,” Sprague said. “We had an awesome American Commercial Lines Chevrolet today, and had my motor been running up to speed during the race I really think we would have had a great shot at the win. Unfortunately, right now we can’t have any luck but bad luck, but we will go to ORP next week and hopefully change that.” 

Starting fifth, Sprague quickly realized he had a motor problem. The No. 2 ACL team brought the truck to pit road on lap four to check the spark plug wires. Finding no bad connections, the team returned to the track, then returned to pit road on lap seven to replace a hood pin. Sprague restarted the race in the 35th position, one lap down.

The team caught a break on lap 11, when the caution waved and Sprague received the lucky dog award, placing him back on the lead lap. Another quick caution brought Sprague back up to the sixth position. However, Sprague’s motor woes were far from over.

By lap 50, Sprague had slid back to the 12th position. Sprague told the crew he felt like he was running on seven cylinders and he thought that the carburetor was causing the engine's sluggishness. The team brought the truck down pit road on lap 53 to change the carburetor, and lost a lap to the leaders.  An extended red flag period on lap 55 helped the No. 2 ACL team get a game plan together since the carburetor change did not solve the motor issue.

On lap 58, Sprague came back down pit road so the crew could begin changing spark plugs.  The team was forced to pit on lap 59 to replace a hood pin.  However, Sprague missed the entrance to pit road and the team went two laps down to the field. 

The team finally found the bad spark plug during a lap 74 stop.  Replacing the plug sparked new life back into the No. 2 ACL Chevrolet.  By lap 110, Sprague was running lap times faster than the leaders.  A string of late cautions helped move Sprague to the 22nd position where he would take the checkers.