Sprague, NetZero Chevy Head to Rockingham with High
Expectations
ROCKINGHAM, NC (February 18, 2002) - Jack Sprague has always had a love
for challenging tracks like the 1.017-mile North Carolina Speedway oval.
While "The Rock" has never been particularly kind to Sprague, the driver of
the No.. 24 NetZero Chevrolet Monte Carlo NASCAR Busch Series entry is eager
to take the green flag this time around in the 1-866-RBCTEAM.com 200
Saturday, February 23.
"I have been looking forward to Rockingham all winter," said Sprague.
"I've been pointing toward the Rockingham race since we made the decision to
leave the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and go Busch Series racing this
season. I love slippery racetracks. It's hard to pass, so qualifying is
everything. Rockingham is one of the tracks we'll race this season that I
know I'll run good at and have a shot of winning. "
Sprague is coming off a seventh-place finish in the season-opening NBS
event at Daytona International Speedway a week ago. The strong effort has
the Spring Lake, MI driver even more determined to do well at Rockingham
this weekend.
"I was really happy with our performance at Daytona," Sprague said. "Man,
it was the first time I ran there and finished in the Top 10. I just wish
I'd had another 30 laps to run because the NetZero Chevy was awesome there
at the end."
Sprague has competed in five Busch Series events at Rockingham, but
hasn't raced at the track since 1993. In those five races, Sprague qualified
in the Top-10 three times, but mechanical gremlins ended strong runs in
each of those events. Sprague's best finish at Rockingham is a 12th the 1993
Goodwrench 200. This time, Sprague will head to "The Rock" with solid
support from his Hendrick Motorsports team, the same group that produced
three championships in the last five NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season.
"I 'm glad Rockingham is one of the first races for us because it could
end up being a real confidence boost for this NetZero team," said Sprague.
"I have the best equipment and team I could ask for and this track is one I
can't wait to race on. We tested there a few weeks ago and we were really
fast. That made us even more excited about Rockingham. It may sound cocky,
but we unloading with the attitude that we're going to win. We think we're
that good."
The 1-866-RBCTEAM.com 200 will take the green flag Saturday, February 23
at 1 p.m. Eastern Time. The event will be the second of 34 NASCAR Busch
Series races this season and will be telecast live on FOX. MRN Radio will
also broadcast the race live on more than 300 affiliated stations worldwide.
ABOUT NETZERO.
