NAZARETH, PA (May 11, 2002) - Jack Sprague's past success at
Nazareth Speedway has been impressive over the years and the driver of the
No. 24 NetZero Chevrolet NASCAR Busch Series entry would like nothing more
than to build on that record in the Stacker 200 Sunday, May 19.
"Nazareth has been a great track for me," said Sprague, "I've won
there a few times, so I have an excuse to like it.. I've had a ton of
success at Nazareth in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series - great qualifying
runs and some pretty awesome finishes. Now we're looking to do that in the
Busch Series."
Sprague's earned bragging rights at Nazareth Speedway by winning the 1996
Devilbiss Superfinish 200 and the 1997 NAPA Autocare 200 Truck Series
events. In six NCTS races at Nazareth, Sprague has posted five Top-10
finishes en route to a fifth-place starting and finishing average. Sprague
also has three Nazareth Busch Series starts to his credit, the best finish a
12th in the 1993 Laneco 200.
"I sure would like another win at Nazareth, especially in a Busch
car, " Sprague explained. "We've always had good trucks here, but never I
did that well when I ran the few Busch races. I feel like we've had two
wins this year taken from us. They were circumstances that we didn't really
plan on, but still it hurts to know how close we've been."
Sprague's limited NBS success at Nazareth in the early 1990s is not
an indicator of what to expect when the Spring Lake, MI driver steers his
NetZero Chevy on to the one-mile Nazareth oval.
"I don't really consider the Busch races I ran way back do me or my
capabilities any justice," Sprague stated. "I know my finishes weren't very
impressive, but neither was my timing. The Truck Series is what brought me
full-circle teaching me what I could do to win races. That's why I think
this Hendrick Motorsports team has what it takes to go all the way and win
races."
While Sprague won't give away his trade secrets about how to get
around the multi-turn Nazareth track, he will let you in on a little inside
info.
"I say Nazareth has three turns, but some say six," said Sprague.
"The last turn is banked off camber - it rolls back the other way and, if
you have a good car that can get through that turn, you'll be all set for
the race. In some ways' it's like a left-handed road course."
Sprague enters this weekend's Stacker 200 with four Top-5 and eight
Top-10 finishes in 11 races this season. The only three-time champion NASCAR
Craftsman Truck Series champion, Sprague is back in the points lead with
1613. He leads second-place, Jason Keller.
"I don't just want a win at Nazareth, I want to dominate," said
Sprague, who is coming off his third-place finish in the most recent NBS
event, the Busch 200 at New Hampshire International Speedway. "We're up
front and have a dominating car almost every week. This team has been
working hard on my Busch and Winston Cup cars. Winning at Nazareth would be
a huge boost for everyone."
The Stacker 200 NASCAR Busch Series race at New Hampshire
International Speedway will take the green flag Sunday, May 19 at 12 p.m.
Eastern Daylight Time. The event will be telecast live on FX. MRN Radio
will also broadcast the race worldwide on more than 400 stations including
the American Armed Forces Network.
ABOUT NETZERO.
NetZero is a United Online company. United Online is a leading
Internet service provider that commenced operations in September 2001 as the
result of its acquisition of NetZero and Juno Online Services -- two of the
most recognized Internet access brands in the United States and Canada.
Through its subsidiaries, United Online offers both free and value-priced
Internet access services in more than 5,000 cities. The company is
headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., with offices in New York City and
Hyderabad, India. United Online's common stock is traded on the Nasdaq
National Market under the ticker symbol "UNTD." For more information about
NetZero and United Online, visit
http://www.unitedonline.net. To obtain a NetZero CD, please call
1-800-DEFENDER.
