Jack Sprague Snags Tenth Top-10 of the Year for Wyler Racing in Phoenix

Avondale, Ariz. (November 12, 2007) - Jack Sprague added to his notable achievements on Friday night after driving the No. 60 Con-way Freight Toyota to a tenth place finish in the Casino Arizona 150 at the one-mile oval of Phoenix International Raceway.  Sprague, who has seen success at the flat-track, took home his 13th career top-10 in Phoenix after qualifying mid-pack, fighting a tight condition, and rebounding from a late race problem on pit road to salvage his tenth top-10 of the season for the Wyler Racing team.

Sprague had an early draw in qualifying and laid down a lap of 27.842 seconds at a speed of 129.301 miles per hour which was good for a 16th place starting spot for the 150-lap event.  Sprague’s Con-way Freight Toyota was loose in qualifying under the hot Phoenix sun, but his truck became tight after the sun set, the track cooled, and the race got underway.  “It’s aero tight,” said Sprague who was mired back in traffic when the green flag waved for the start of the race.

Sprague fought a tight truck but battled his way into the top-12 before hitting pit road for his first pit stop of the night after the caution was displayed for a single truck wreck in turn one.  Sprague gave up 12th position to follow the leaders down pit road for his first pit stop of the night.  The Con-way crew outfitted his Toyota with four fresh tires, fuel, track bar and air pressure adjustments before returning Sprague to the track in 13th position.  Sprague’s pit crew ripped off a fast stop and they would have picked up two spots on pit road, but the top-three trucks stayed out for track position.

“Our starting air pressures are too low or something,” said Sprague to the crew on lap 42.  “It doesn’t go too good early in a run,” he explained.  “It pushes hard for the first three or four laps.”  Sprague worked his way into 11th position by lap 50.  “I think I am better,” he said, just before two trucks came together right in front of the Con-way Freight machine, bringing out the caution on lap 56.  Sprague was eighth at the restart on lap 61. 

Sprague raced his way around the one-mile oval from the eighth position until the caution flag flew again on lap 72 for a single truck wreck on the frontstretch.  Sprague hit pit road for four tires, fuel, and significant chassis adjustments but a lugnut issue on the right rear forced Sprague to pit road again just one lap later.  Sprague restarted the race in 31st position but didn’t remain there long as he quickly picked off the slower trucks and worked his way back into 16th place before keying the radio to tell the crew that he was “tight”. 

In the final 50 lap shootout, Sprague cautiously worked his way through the field.  Sprague put his Con-way Freight Toyota into 12th position by lap 113.  Just a few laps later, Sprague keyed the radio to tell the crew that his Toyota was “tight” and that he couldn’t get back to the throttle like he needed too.  Even though Sprague’s Toyota wasn’t handling the best, he still mustered up enough speed to pass two more trucks to finish 10th in his final race at Phoenix with the Wyler Racing team.

Sprague and the Wyler Racing team will take the No. 60 Con-way Freight Toyota Tundra to Homestead-Miami Speedway for the Ford 200 on Friday, November 16th.  Live television coverage from the 1.5-mile oval will be provided by SPEED at 7:30 p.m. ET with radio coverage coming to you live from MRN Radio.