Novice Slip-up Wrecks Sprague’s Shot at Texas Win
Fort Worth, Texas (November 5, 2007) – Jack Sprague came close to leading the most important lap of the night on Friday at Texas Motor Speedway, but a costly mistake by another driver on the final dash to the checkered flag kept Sprague from a shot at his second win of the season and third win of his career at the Fort Worth area attraction.
"The No. 8 (Chad McCumbee) spun his tires on the last restart and I went to go to the inside, and he came down and blocked me,” said Sprague after the race. “I went to go to the outside of him and he came back across my nose and took both of us into the wall. That was a rookie mistake the way that I see it. As a result, it tore up a lot of trucks.”
Sprague’s Con-way Freight Toyota was strong after qualifying 15th with a lap of 29.605 seconds at a speed of 182.402 miles per hour. When the race got underway, Sprague quickly moved into 12th at the completion of lap one. “It’s a little free, but I think it will be alright,” said Sprague to Crew Chief Rick Gay when the event’s first caution came out on lap three for a two truck wreck off turn four.
It didn’t take long before the next caution flew on lap 11. Sprague had a close call and took evasive action to avoid the four truck wreck coming out of turn four. With trucks spinning across the track, Sprague threaded the needle and drove through the infield to steer clear of the carnage.
With grass clogging his grill and causing his water temperature to rise, Sprague hit pit road so the crew could remove the grass, make a track bar adjustment, and fill the fuel cell full of fuel. Sprague returned to the track 23rd when the race resumed on lap 14.
Less than 10 laps later, Sprague had worked his way into 17th but was “still a little free”. Even though his truck wasn’t handling perfectly, Sprague continued to move through the field and charged into 13th position by lap 37. Just three laps later, the caution flew again and Sprague hit pit road for four tires, fuel, air pressure and chassis adjustments. While in his pit stall, the Con-way Freight Toyota died and wouldn’t restart. Sprague quickly switched ignition boxes while the crew was pushing him down pit road and it finally restarted. “We will get back up there,” said Sprague. “We’ve got a good truck.”
Sprague had a good truck indeed as he worked his way back into the top-15 by lap 65. “It’s good through the corner and a tick tight off,” said Sprague as the event’s next caution flew on lap 70. Sprague stayed out while the leader’s hit pit road and assumed the fourth position when the race went back to green flag conditions on lap 74. Sprague battled in the top-seven while keying the radio to tell the crew that his Toyota was “a little tight everywhere now”.
Sprague, who owns the track record for the most top-five finishes (7), moved into third position by lap 88, but just a few laps later he hit pit road for his only green flag stop of the night for four tires, fuel, and an air pressure adjustment on lap 105. Sprague returned to the track 17th but wouldn’t remain there for very long as the leaders began to pit for their final stop of the night. Sprague drove his way back into the top-10 by lap 128 and maneuvered into fifth place by lap 139.
With five laps to go, the leaders wrecked setting up a green/white/checkered flag finish. After a short red flag for crash cleanup, Sprague assumed second spot behind McCumbee – who had admittedly had a clutch problem all night long - for the short shootout to the finish. As McCumbee led the field to the green flag he spun his tires, forcing Sprague to take action. As Sprague dove low, McCumbee blocked him. Sprague drove to the high side and McCumbee came across his bumper again which slammed the duo into the outside retaining wall.
“We were a third- place truck tonight because (Ron) Hornaday and (Mike) Skinner were the two best,” said Sprague following the race. “Rick and the guys on this team did a fantastic job and gave me a great truck tonight. But, the way I see it, we should have won tonight."
Sprague will have his next shot to win as the Series’ takes on Phoenix International Raceway on Friday, November 9th, 2007. Sprague has an incredible record at the Phoenix flat track with five Bud Pole awards, three wins, five runner up finishes, nine top-five and 12 top-ten finishes in 14 starts. Sprague and the Wyler Racing team will be at the one-mile oval for the running of the Casino Arizona 150, live on SPEED at 7:30 p.m. ET with radio coverage coming to you live from MRN Radio.
