Silverado One-Two at Mansfield - Sprague Gives Cherolet First NASCAR Craftsmans Truck Series Win of 2004

FELLOW SILVERADO DRIVER DENNIS SETZER FINISHED CLOSE SECOND AND TAKES POINTS LEAD

MANSFIELD, Ohio - Three-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Jack Sprague gave Chevrolet Silverado their first win of the 2004 NCTS season with a dominating performance in Sunday's inaugural UAW/GM Ohio 250 race at Mansfield Motorsports Speedway.

Dennis Setzer brought the #46 Chevrolet Silverado home in a second and for the first time in his NCTS took over the series' points lead.

Sprague took the #16 Chevy Trucks Silverado to victory lane leading the last 54 laps of the 252-lap race to post his first victory since Sept. 9, 2001 and the 24th of his career. The Spring Lake, Michigan native lead the most laps, 139

Sprague, who started from the pole position right next to Setzer in a lineup set by points due to a steady rain on Saturday, led the most laps-139 total, to win by .394 seconds - about a truck length-in a green-white-checkered finish following the race's final caution on lap 245.

CHEVROLET SILVERADO NOTES AND QUOTES

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES

UAW/GM OHIO 250

MANSFIELD MOTORSPORTS SPEEDWAY

POST RACE DRIVER QUOTES

MAY 16, 2004

Jack Sprague, No. 16 Chevy TRUCKS Silverado (1st Place Finish):

"We just kept digging and saved our stuff and it worked out. The first two cautions I caused. The preferred line is the center here. I came up on the 72 and she went to the top of the track so I went to the bottom and she came down and I hit her. Then the 02 must have gotten spooked and hit the brakes and I hit her in the back and spun her. I thought man I’m not going to get out of here tonight. I didn’t hit one else after that.

"We were good in testing on Friday but with the weather difference we made a bunch of changes but we went the right way. I was a little tight at the beginning but not bad. We ran about 170 laps on that second set of tires because we didn't want to pit again and give up track position. Hamilton (Bobby) was good for quite a while there. I thought he and Dennis (Setzer) were the two who had something for us today. When we got back to the front and the truck was handling really well even as the tires were getting more and more laps on them, we decided it wasn't worth giving up the lead because we weren't all on the same pit sequence. It was the right decision to make.

“It was like a rocket when it came off the corners it hit so hard. It was one of those situations that it was not bad to be tight off the center. The #16 Chevy Trucks Silverado was just perfect today. We had the power under the hood and are pleased about our finish.”

“I spent a lot of time with these guys before I made the decision to come to this team. I was a little rocky in Atlanta but these guys have worked so hard. I complained about not having enough horse power and they found me more. I pulled less gear then anyone else out there today, I guarantee it.”

“I had perfect pit stops today and it all just came together. I had a blast here, these short tracks are great. I was even passing some of these trucks on the bottom. This is what makes the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series so much fun, we were doing some beating and banging out there and everyone was having a ball. I don't think there was anyone who had a straight truck when it was over and the fans got a great race. I’m looking forward to coming back here next year.

"I can't say enough about all GM Racing and Chevrolet have done for us this season. I am glad to be able to give them their first win in 2004.

Dennis Setzer, No. 46, Chevrolet Silverado (2nd Place Finish):

“The Morgan-Dollar Chevrolet Silverado was just on it today. It was pretty awesome out there. The RCR Power under hood was fast. It handled on the top and the bottom. It was a great day for the Chevrolet teams and we have a lot of momentum going into Charlotte.”

“I loved the track here at Mansfield. You could hear the fans cheering during the red flag. The sold out crowd got the kind of race they would have expected from the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. This is the kind of track I like to run on and I can’t wait to come back next year.

"This is the first time I have ever led the points in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the first time the Morgan Dollar team has ever been the points leader so it was just an awesome day for us.

"Jack (Sprague) was just a little better off the corner than us, we could stay with him but not get off quick enough to pull even or get by him. But together we could pull away enough to keep the others behind us. It was a good time out there today."

TRACY HINES, No. 88 MENARDS silverado (5TH PLACE FINISH):

“It just came off the truck great. We were fast testing at practice on Friday and we backed it up with the practice this morning. We went to the back twice and got spun. Then we went to the tail and still got back to the front. We had a lot of laps on the tires and I just want to thank the guys for running us clean. It’s just a great day for the guys at Menard Chevy. The 88 team deserve this. “

“This team is based out of Sandusky Ohio not many people know that our shops for the 13 and the 88 are based there. It was great to get a top 10 finish in front of the hometown crowd. My team really enjoyed having a track close to home for a change. We will definitely take this finish and work toward a strong finish in Charlotte next week.”

DAVID STARR, NO. 75 SPEARS SILVERADO (9TH PLACE FINISH):

"Our Spears Silverado was pretty good today. We worked our way up to the top-five but there at the end, everyone was doing some beating and banging when the cautions kept coming and we went from a top-five finish back to ninth. That's the way it goes in short-track racing sometime.

"This is a great track and we had a lot of fun racing out there today. Now we head for Charlotte and will give our best effort for Chevrolet."

MATT CRAFTON No. 6 GM Goodwrench Silverado (10th PLACE FINISH):

"We definitely had a really good truck today, possibly a top-five truck. It was a tough couple of days with the weather changes from cold rain to finally some heat and sun shine so set-up was difficult. We pitted too many times and that was my fault as much as happenings on the track. We were really were good on the first run so when we came in we left it alone. Then the sun came out and we got really loose. That's when we decided to come back in again.”

"With ten laps to go, we were ready for a good finish and not a mark on the truck. Unfortunately, on the restart towards the end of the race, we got into the back of the truck ahead and that kind of killed our chances. It was a typical short track type of deal.”

KELLY SUTTON, NO. 02 TEAM COPAXONE SILVERADO (20TH PLACE FINISH):

“We’re so excited to bring home a lead lap top 20th finish for the team Copaxone Chevy to come from 2 laps down and have a strong finish was exactly what we needed. I’m living g proof to anyone with MS or any adversity that you can achieve your goals if you put your mind to it.”

SHANE HMIEL, NO. 15 EARL SMALL’S HARLEY-DAVIDSON SILVERADO (35TH PLACE FINISH):

“I’m just so disappointed for the team. Our Chevy had so much power. Our spotter didn’t hear NASCAR call the caution and I ran right up on Brad Keselowski and pushed in the radiator. I lost the water temperature and the oil temp was increasing. We tried to change the radiator and head back out but then we discovered water was coming out of the exhaust. We blew a gasket and our day was done. This team has worked so hard to have two bad finishes in a row. Now we are just looking forward to the next race. We have a great truck for Charlotte and are looking forward to taking our Chevy to Victory Lane.”

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