Jack Sprague Nearly Claims Superspeedway Double in Talladega
Talladega, Ala. (October 8, 2007) - Jack Sprague and the Wyler Racing team came close to taking the Superspeedway double at Talladega Superspeedway after qualifying on the outside pole and leading four times for a total of 30 laps in the Mountain Dew 250. But their chance to win their second Superspeedway race of the year was cut short after the No. 60 Con-way Freight Toyota Tundra blew a tire while leading on lap 73 and forced their retirement from Saturday afternoon's NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race.
Sprague, who is well-known for being one of the best drafters around, hit the 2.66-mile tri-oval for qualifying on Friday laying down a fast lap of 52.720 seconds at a speed of 181.639 miles per hour - only five one-hundredths of a second off the pole speed set by fellow Toyota driver, Todd Bodine. "œThe guys did a great job," said Sprague. "œWe just went out there and ran a lap."
Sprague, who had one previous Craftsman Truck Series start to his credit at the 2.66-mile oval, won the season-opener at Daytona International Speedway and was going for the Superspeedway double on Saturday when the green flag dropped for the 94-lap Mountain Dew 250.
When Sprague took the green flag for the start of the Mountain Dew 250, he wasted no time claiming the top spot. Sprague moved past the pole sitter on lap one, grabbing five bonus points for leading a lap. Sprague stayed on point until pitting for right side tires and fuel after the caution was displayed on lap 17 for debris. With other trucks on different pit strategies, Sprague lined up second on the restart.
When the race returned to green flag action on lap 20, Sprague fell in line behind Bodine who assumed the lead on the cycle of stops. By lap 44, one of the hood hinges broke on the No. 60 truck, requiring the team's attention. When the next caution was displayed on lap 55 for a three truck wreck off of turn four, Sprague brought the Con-way Freight Toyota to the attention of the crew. Crew Chief Tony Furr called for fuel and bearbond tape over the troublesome hood hinge before returning Sprague to the track in second spot.
Sprague returned to the lead on lap 62 but a vibration surfaced. Even though Sprague's Toyota was shaking, he continued to lead until lap 73 when disaster struck. The right front tire blew out on the No. 60 Con-way Freight Toyota while leading the draft. Sprague tried everything he could to duck low to avoid causing the infamous "œBig One" but as he slowed, he was punted from behind and sent spinning up and into the field. Sprague limped his damaged Con-way Freight Toyota to pit road but the damage was too severe to repair, resulting in a 27th place finish in the Mountain Dew 250. Despite the disappointing finish, Sprague still holds on to 10th in the 2007 Championship Point Standings.
"We were getting a flat," explained Sprague. "I tried to get onto pit road, but I just got mowed over from behind. It's nobody's fault. I had my hands full of the wheel and was too busy to waive them off. It's just unbelievable to be leading the race and wreck. This is just not my year. We were really hoping to get another win for Con-way Freight, but we'll have to wait a couple weeks until we race at Martinsville." Sprague and the Wyler Racing team are defending race winner's at Martinsville Speedway.
Sprague and the Wyler Racing team will take a weekend off before taking the No. 60 Con-way Freight Toyota Tundra to Martinsville Speedway for the running of Kroger 200 on Saturday, October 20th. Live television coverage from the .526-mile short-track will be provided by SPEED at 3 p.m. ET with radio coverage coming to you live from MRN Radio.