Sprague Endures Mayhem at Bristol with Top-Fifteen Finish

BRISTOL, Tenn. (August 22, 2008) --- Jack Sprague and the No. 2 American Commercial Lines (ACL) Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) Chevrolet team were involved in a late-race multi-truck crash that resulted in a 14th-place finish Wednesday night at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway in the O’Reilly 200.

“Ernie (Cope, crew chief) and the guys gave me a great truck,” said Sprague following the race.  “Prior to qualifying we changed everything, the entire setup.  After qualifying, I felt like we were going to have a good race. I was really saving my stuff after our only pit stop.  I knew that I was going to have to race that set of tires a while so I was conserving and trying to stay out of trouble.  By the end of the race we were a top-three or-four truck.  With about 20 laps to go, there was that wreck in one and two, by the time I figured out what was going on, Hornaday had the brakes locked up and so did I. I got into him and ruined his night. I hate that we got together, after that it was just survival, my night was over too.”

Sprague began the race from the 12th position.  As the green flag dropped Sprague methodically moved his way toward the front.  The team came down pit road under caution on lap 41 for their only pit stop of the day.  They took four tires and fuel, returning to competition in the 13th spot.

Through the middle portion of the event, Sprague consistently ran lap times faster than the leader and eventual race winner, Kyle Busch.  Sprague continued to conserve his equipment, telling the No. 2 team that his truck was coming to him.  On lap 179 Sprague was running in the fifth position, catching KHI teammate Ron Hornaday for the fourth spot.  Two trucks crashed in turns one and two, and Hornaday and Sprague both locked their brakes to try and miss the incident.  However, Sprague ran into the back of Hornaday, sustaining major front-end damage to the No. 2 ACL Chevrolet.   

Following the incident, the team determined the damage was not severe enough to warrant a trip to pit road.  With 16 laps remaining, Sprague restarted the race in ninth place, but struggled to hang on to his badly wounded No. 2 ACL Chevrolet, crossing the finish line in the 14th position.