Sprague / No. 60 HAAS CNC Racing Team Head Home After Qualifying Cancelled at Atlanta

       HAMPTION, GA (October 27, 2002) -  For the second time, rain sent Jack Sprague and the Haas CNC Racing team home early after Bud-Pole Qualifying was cancelled Friday night. Sprague, who drives the No. 60 Chevrolet Monte Carlo was set to qualify for the NAPA 500 Winston Cup event at Atlanta Motor Speedway when he skies opened again just before the final Busch Series practice session.

       "We added Atlanta to our list after qualifying was rained out at Charlotte a few weeks ago," said Sprague who will be starting fifth in the NASCAR Busch Series event Saturday. "I really hate that we didn't get a shot at it. The car wasn't bad in what little practice we had. We were one of the quicker Hendrick cars for a while, but we made some changes at the end that slowed us up a bit, but it was still pretty good. I think we'd have been okay if we were able to qualify. I'm really surprised we got on the track at all with the way it was raining earlier in the day. It's a little disappointing, but there's nothing we can do about the weather."

        The rain began early Friday morning, forcing NASCAR to cancel Busch Series qualifying. The rained stopped long enough for both Busch and Winston Cup drivers to get a little bit of practice, but not for long. The rain picked back up just as the Busch cars were lined up for final practice.

        As Sprague waited to attempt for his second Winston Cup race of the season, NASCAR made their final decision of the day - to cancel qualifying. Sprague, with no provisional points was left loading up and get ready for the team's next race at Rockingham.

         "Atlanta is always questionable when it comes to the weather," said Sprague. "It's usually raining or cold.  We came down here without testing and I think we did all we could.  I think considering we had no notes to go off, we had a decent car.  That makes two in a row for us that we didn't make because of rain.  Now we'll have to add the Phoenix race to our schedule. It never rains in Phoenix, so maybe we'll be okay."

         Sprague and the No. 60 Haas CNC Racing team's next appearance has will be the Pop Secret Microwave 400 Winston Cup event at North Carolina Speedway.  The event will be aired live on Sunday, November 3, 2002 on TNT.  Coverage begins at 12:30 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time) and broadcast on more than 400 affiliates around the nation.