Jack Sprague Moved From Tail of the Field to 13th at Kentucky

Sparta, Kent. (July 16th, 2007) - If Jack Sprague wasn’t the most improved driver on Saturday night at Kentucky Speedway, he should have been.  Sprague was fast in both practice sessions in preparation for The Built Ford Tough 225 Presented by The Greater Cincinnati Ford Dealers, but a wreck in qualifying forced Sprague to a backup truck and to the back of the field for the start of the 150-lap race.  Sprague made 35 green flag passes throughout the event en route to a 13th place finish at the 1.5-mile tri-oval and was one of the most improved driver’s, under the lights, on Saturday night.

Sprague was the fastest of 35 trucks during first practice and backed that up by being second quick in final practice on Friday.  When Sprague and the No. 60 Con-way Freight Toyota took to the track in qualifying, Sprague was again quick, laying down a first lap of 31.228 seconds at a speed of 172.922 miles per hour.  But when Sprague took the white flag for his final lap in qualifying, his Con-way Freight Toyota snapped loose in turns three and four and slammed the retaining wall. 

The Con-way Freight crew pulled out the backup truck and worked feverishly to prepare the truck for the race in a short amount of time.  The crew’s perseverance paid off after Sprague took the green flag in 35th position and wasted no time working his way into the top-25.  “It’s tight in the center and good off,” said Sprague to Crew Chief Tony Furr, under the events first caution on lap 13.  “I can’t pick up the gas as quick as I need to though.”

When the race resumed, Sprague’s tight condition worsened and he became “tight in the center and off”.  Furr and the Con-way Freight crew had their first opportunity to fix the tight condition under caution on lap 52.  “Just get me better in the center and off,” said Sprague as he dropped to pit road from 19th position.  The Con-way Freight crew gave Sprague four fresh tires, fuel, and chassis and air pressure adjustments before returning him to the track in 15th position. 

Sprague moved into 14th on lap 62 and continued his charge to the front by working his way into 13th by lap 64.  “I think I’m better but time will tell,” he said.  Sprague continued to battle side-by-side for position and worked his way to 11th by the event’s final caution on lap 96.  “I’m free in,” said Sprague as the caution flag waved.  “I need a little help in the center.  It’s too tight.”

Sprague got his help by dropping to pit road for four tires, fuel, and another round of chassis and air pressure adjustments.  The crew returned Sprague to the track in 11th position but after the green flag waved Sprague’s Toyota became “stupid loose” and he slid to 15th.  Sprague’s Con-way Freight Toyota got a little better in the closing laps as he worked his way back to finish in 13th position.

“All the guys on the Con-way Freight team did a great job today,” said Sprague.  “I’ve got to thank them for all their hard work in preparing the backup truck.  Our streak of bad luck continues but nobody ever gives up.  To come from the back and finish 13th in a backup truck is a testament to this team and to Toyota.”

Sprague and the Wyler Racing team will take a well-deserved week off before returning the No. 60 Con-way Freight Toyota Tundra to the race track at the .686-mile oval of O’Reilly Raceway Park at Indianapolis for the Power Stroke Diesel 200 presented by Ford and International, under the lights, on Friday, July 27th, 2007.  Live television coverage will be provided by SPEED at 7:30 p.m. ET with radio coverage coming to you live from MRN Radio.