Sprague, NetZero Chevy Looking
for Another Dominating NHIS Performance
LOUDON, NH (May 10,
2002) - The last time Jack Sprague made a visit to New Hampshire
International Speedway, he scored one of the most dominating wins of his
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career leading all but 17 of 200 circuits in
capturing the New England 200.
"We really thumped them last year," said Sprague, who returns to NHIS
this weekend behind the wheel of the No. 24 NetZero Chevrolet Monte Carlo
NASCAR Busch Series entry. "We won the pole and led the first 160 laps last
year before giving up the lead when we pitted. I had such a great truck that
I was able to drive away from everyone at the end and get the win. I'm
coming back with the same Hendrick Motorsports team I had last year, the
same crew chief in Dennis Connor and the same sponsor - NetZero. We're
running great in the Busch Series this year, so there's no reason to think
we can't go to New Hampshire and do it again this year."
Sprague's been competing at NHIS since the early 1990s when he raced in
a trio of Busch Series events. While he had limited NBS success at New
Hampshire, Sprague's Truck Series NHIS record is very impressive boasting
five Top-10 finishes in six NCTS starts including last year's winning
performance.
"My finishes weren't too impressive in the Busch car, but that was early
in my career and it just wasn't the right fit for me at the time," said
Sprague. "All that changed when I started racing there in the Truck Series.
We really started kicking butt because we got to know the tricks to getting
around there."
While Sprague won't give away his trade secrets, he will let you in on a
little inside info.
"New Hampshire is all about having a lot of horsepower for the long
straights and a good handling chassis to get around the corners," said
Sprague. "New Hampshire is a big motor track, like most one-mile raceways
are. It takes a lot of horsepower to run well and win at places like New
Hampshire, Milwaukee (WI) and Homestead (FL). Again, you have to handle in
the corners too, but if you don't have the ponies down the straight-aways,
you're in for a long day."
Jumping on a different horse in the Busch Series this season hasn't
slowed the Spring Lake, MI driver. In fact, Sprague is enjoying the same
kind of success he did in the Truck Series scoring three Top-5 and seven
Top-10 finishes (may change) in 10 races this season. Heading into the New
Hampshire event, Sprague, the only three-time champion in the history of the
Truck Series, is leading the NBS title chase (may change).
"I sure would like another win at New Hampshire, but then again, I'd
like to win period," said Sprague, who is coming off an18th-place finish in
the most recent NBS event, the Hardee's 250 at Richmond International
Raceway. "We're running up front every week and think we have a shot to win
at each race. Given they've changed the track at New Hampshire by making it
wider, it will be a level playing field because everyone will be trying to
figure it out. We've got great notes from the Truck Series and hopefully,
some of them will translate to our NetZero car. If they do, I think we can
dominate just like we did last year in the Trucks."
The Busch 200 NASCAR Busch Series race at New Hampshire International
Speedway will take the green flag Saturday, May 11 at 12:30 p.m. Eastern
Daylight Time. The event will be the eleventh of 34 NASCAR Busch Series
races this season and will be telecast live on FX. MRN Radio will also
broadcast the race live.
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.
