Saturday, July 14, 2001
Sprague leads truck field at Speedway
Two-time champ wins 17th career pole
By Tom Groeschen
The Cincinnati Enquirer
SPARTA, Ky. — Jack Sprague will sit on the pole for tonight's NASCAR Craftsman Truck race at Kentucky Speedway, a development that surprised absolutely no one Friday.
Jack Sprague talks with a track official Friday.
(Craig Ruttle photos)
| ZOOM |
|
While Todd Bodine's winning the Winston Cup pole Friday in Chicago was a stunner, Sprague's Truck pole was almost expected. At the press conference featuring Sprague (167.115 mph qualifying time) and No.2 qualifier Ricky Hendrick, a NASCAR official announced some of Sprague's Truck Series accomplishments:
“That was Jack's 17th career Truck pole, and he is the all-time leader.”
“That is his third pole in four races.”
“He is the only man to compete in all 158 races since the Truck series was formed (1995).”
“He is the all-time mileage leader ... the all-time laps leader ... ”
Not mentioned: Sprague is a two-time Truck season champion (1997, '99). But most people at Kentucky Speedway knew that.
|
SCHEDULE
|
Sprague at the wheel
|
• 3 p.m. — Gates open
• 6 p.m. — Joe Diffie concert
• 8 p.m. — NASCAR Craftsman Truck Kroger 225 race
Tickets: $30, $40, $50, $60 at the track.
|
Sprague, a 36-year-old resident of Spring Lake, Mich., is the biggest fish in NASCAR's No.3 pond, the Truck Series. The major league Winston Cup and second tier Busch series are his for the taking, but Sprague said he won't move just to move.
“I'll stay in the Trucks unless a good Winston Cup deal comes,” Sprague said. “I enjoy doing what I'm doing, and I'm not gonna take a subpar ride just to move up.”
Sprague and Hendrick are both employed by Hendrick's father, Rick, whose domain includes the Winston Cup cars of Jeff Gordon, Terry Labonte and Jerry Nadeau.
With the Hendrick Winston rides set for now, and with Sprague still dominant in the Truck series, there's no reason to break up the teams.
“The guys work hard on these trucks and spend a lot of money to make 'em go faster,” Sprague said. “But we've got to get to the end and win some.”
Sprague has one victory this year and stands third in the season points, which would be great years for most but not necessarily for Sprague. He has won at least three times per year since 1996, and his 20 career Truck wins are second all-time behind Ron Hornaday (25), who now is in Winston Cup.
This year Sprague has had some bad luck, such as last week at Kansas City. Sprague had a big lead on Hendrick before his final pit stop, but then stalled on pit road.
Sprague will attempt to make up for last year at Kentucky, when he finished second to Greg Biffle. Biffle has moved on to the Busch series.
The winner of tonight's race will earn an estimated $75,000, NASCAR Truck publicist Owen Kearns said.
The trucks drew 63,750 to Kentucky Speedway for the track's inaugural event in June 2000. The crowd won't be as large tonight, but pre-sale figures are still more than double the typical truck crowd.
“Ticket sales have taken off this week, and we now expect between 40,000 and 50,000 fans (tonight),” said Mark Cassis, speedway general manager. “The good weather has a lot to do with our sales increases.”
Friday night, 24,740 were in the stands for Truck qualifying, followed by an ARCA stock car race.
The weather has been clear most of the week, with temperatures in the high 70s and low 80s. Seasonal, pleasant conditions are expected again for tonight's race.
Lineup for tonight's truck race
Hendrick's son making name for himself
Kimmel claims ARCA race
ARCA race results
Get the lowdown on other events at Kentucky Speedway in our special section
Sports Stories
Indians 5, Reds 1
Rijo rushing Reds' timetable
Injured Larkin nowhere near returning
Hamstring still bothering Griffey
Indians' rookie pitcher has it all over Reds'
Brower happy to face former team
Reds box, runs
Sprague leads truck field at Speedway
