Jack Sprague Phoenix Preview
No. 60 Jeff Wyler Toyota Tundra
Venue: Phoenix International Raceway
Event: Chevy Silverado 150
Date: Friday, November 11, 2005
Laps/Miles: 150 LAPS / 150 MILES
TV: SPEED Channel @ 8:00 p.m. EST
Radio: MRN / XM Radio @ 8:00 p.m. EST
Qualifying: Friday, November 11, 2005 @ 12:00 p.m. EST
Career at Phoenix International Raceway:
This will be Jack Sprague’s 15th career start at the
Phoenix International Raceway. Along with 12 previous starts
at the track in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Jack has
to his credit one start in each the Nextel Cup Series and
the Busch Series.
CTS Career Stats at Texas:
Starts: 12
Wins: 3 (1996 twice and 1997)
Poles: 5 (1995, 1996, 1997, 1999 and 2004)
Avg. Start: 3.7
Avg. Finish: 3.4
Top 10: 11
Top 5: 9
Earnings: $283,197
Laps Led: 739
Jack On Phoenix:
“It is safe to say that Phoenix is by far my most favorite
track on the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series circuit. It reminds
me a lot of a bigger version of the Concord (NC) Motorsports
Park where I did a lot of late model racing early in my career.
I have had a lot of success at the track over the years –
I had three wins in a row in the late 90’s there and
I have accumulated something like five poles as well. On top
of that, this Wyler Racing team is really on top of their
game and is giving me awesome Toyota Tundra’s each week
out here. We have had real solid runs here the last two weeks
out and it is exciting coming into my favorite track the way
we are running. We really want to win one of these last races
as we build some momentum with this Wyler Racing team for
a run at the 2006 Championship.”
Jack On Finishing In the Top-10 In Points:
Do you feel added pressure to finish in the top-10 since
you have always finished there ever since you have started
driving in the series?
Of course there is added pressure – pressure I put
on myself. I’ve had an up and down year with only one
win but I’ve managed to stay on the bubble of the top-10
in driver points all season. Changing teams with only 5 races
left in the season hasn’t really affected my point status.
Moving to Toyota with Wyler Racing has been a great opportunity.
We came close to a win in Atlanta but still finished fourth
and that along with a sixth place finish this past weekend
in Texas has put us back in the top-10. We still have two
races left and Tony Furr (crew chief) and the rest of the
guys on the Wyler Racing team have put together some great
Tundra’s so I think we will be ok.
Yes, I think the added competition in the series has made
it more difficult to stay in the top-10. Before you came in
and there wasn’t as much competition so myself Ron (Hornaday)
and Mike (Skinner) were able to win a lot of races putting
us in the top-10 in driver points every year. Now you have
a lot of trucks, good drivers (new drivers and veterans) plus
the increased factory support. You need to really have your
truck dialed in week in and week out. I’m not too worried
though as I’m happy with the Wyler Racing Toyota team
and look forward to bringing home a championship in 2006.
Phoenix Dominance:
Sprague is the hands-down, most dominant competitor at P.I.R.
He has completed every one of the 1,857 laps/miles available
in his 12 starts. His nine top-five finishes include eight
finishes of first or second. Sprague has finished in the top
10 in 11 of 12 starts and has led 739 of the track’s
2,159 laps. The latter figure represents 34.2 percent of the
laps led. No other driver has led in double figures.
Notes:
- Jack will be making his 221st career start in the Craftsman
Truck Series this week.
- Jack will be making his fourth start for his new team
– Wyler Racing – and Toyota Motorsports. He
has collected two solid top-10 finishes in his last two
races (fourth in Atlanta and sixth last week in Texas)
- Jack has one win to his credit so far this season (Texas)
and has collected one pole as well (Milwaukee).
2005 Quick Facts
Starts: 23
Wins: 1
Top-10 Finishes: 10
Top-20 Finishes: 15
Poles: 1
DNF’s: 5
Average Start: 12.0
Average Finishes: 14.8
Position in Points: 9th
