Jack Sprague Scores Ninth in Return to Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Ind. (July 30th, 2007) - Jack Sprague and the Indianapolis Colts have something in common. Sprague is a three-time Champion in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series while the Indianapolis Colts are winners in their own right. The Colts won the 2006 Super Bowl with a 19-17 win over the Chicago Bears, capturing their first NFL Championship since 1970, while Sprague captured a win in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series version of the Super Bowl in February when he took the checkered flag in the Daytona 250, in one of the closest margin’s of victory in Series’ history.
When Sprague and his Con-way Freight team descended on the Colts’ home turf for Friday night’s running of the Power Stroke Diesel 200, he was returning to a track that is almost as historic as Daytona, where he scored his first win of the season and 28th victory of his NCTS career. “I love O’Reilly Raceway Park,” said Sprague prior the 200-lap shootout. “It has always been a really good track for me.” In Sprague’s 11 previous starts at ORP, he won twice. “ORP is a technical track with unique characteristics,” he continued. “There isn’t another track on the circuit that comes close to ORP. The fans are always treated to an action packed race.”
Qualifying was washed out on Friday afternoon and Sprague and the No. 60 Con-way Freight Toyota lined up ninth for the start of the Power Stroke Diesel 200. The race fans that stuck it out and fought Mother Nature were treated to quite a show when the race finally got underway after a lengthy rain delay.
At the drop of the green flag, Sprague worked his way into eighth position before the event’s first caution flew for a single truck wreck in turn one. “It’s tight in the center but not getting worse,” said Sprague, under caution, to Crew Chief Tony Furr. “We’ll put a pound in the right rear when he pit,” said Furr. When the race returned to green flag competition on lap 43, Sprague said “It’s a lot tighter now for some reason.”
Sprague took the opportunity to hit pit road when the event’s third caution fell on lap 79 for a wreck in turn four. Furr stuck to his plan, adding one pound of air to the right rear, while giving the No. 60 Con-way Freight Toyota four fresh tires, fuel, and a track bar adjustment, returning Sprague to the track in 10th position.
The Con-way Freight Toyota was “still tight” as Sprague worked his way into ninth spot on lap 103. “It feels like we have a flat rear tire,” said Sprague to the team as the caution was displayed for a wreck in turn two. “We’re loose in and off all of a sudden,” explained Sprague. “But we’re still tight in the center.” While Sprague motored around under caution, Furr and Spotter Joey Meier determined that all four tires were up on the No. 60 Con-way Freight Toyota. When the race resumed, Sprague slid to 10th position but worked his way back into ninth by lap 152. With ORP being a tough track to pass on, Sprague remained in ninth position until the checkered flag fell after a green/white/checkered flag finish.
“It’s always tough to pass on short tracks,” said Sprague after the race. “I was running the bottom groove for most of the night, where nobody was, and still couldn’t get around guys because this place is so tight. The Con-way Freight Toyota was pretty good tonight but my truck was actually the best at the beginning of the race. Once a little rubber was down on the track, we didn’t seem to be as good as we were early. It ended up being a pretty good point’s day, with a finish in the top-10, but it’s not where I wanted to be. We’re definitely looking for some better runs in the next few races.”
Sprague remains seventh in the 2007 Championship Point Standings.
Sprague and the Wyler Racing team will enjoy a weekend off before taking the No. 60 Con-way Freight Toyota to Nashville Superspeedway for the running of the Toyota Tundra 200 on Saturday, August 11th. Live television coverage will be provided by SPEED at 6 p.m. ET with radio coverage coming to you live from MRN Radio.