Jack Sprague No. 2 RVs.com Chevrolet Team Report NASCAR Truck Series Race 4 of 25 — Martinsville (Va.) Speedway
ATLANTA RECAP: The No. 2 RVs.com Chevrolet came away from the Atlanta Motor Speedway with their first top-10 finish of the 2008 season. Qualifying third Sprague and team began the event with a tight-handling race truck. During the first caution period the No. 2 RVs.com team came in running in the fifth position. After taking four tires, fuel and making a tire pressure adjustment the team ripped off a fast stop and sent Sprague out in the second position. Following a long green-flag run, Sprague and team decided to pit for fuel only; getting them back on track in the first position. Another long run was to follow as Sprague settled into third position gaining on the leaders the longer the race ran green. A green-flag pit stop at lap 90 gave the team added encouragement as Sprague radioed to the crew that it was the “money” stop. However, a late caution for rain brought the No. 2 RVs.com Chevrolet back to pit lane. The team suffered a lug nut problem on the front, causing them to return to the track in seventh position. The team rallied on the short run to finish the race sixth.
THERE FROM THE BEGINNING: Martinsville (Va.) Speedway is one of only five tracks still remaining on the NASCAR Truck Series schedule that was competed on during the inaugural 1995 season. Sprague has had success at the paperclip shaped track. In 15 starts Sprague has amassed three poles, one win, six top-five and eight top-10 finishes.
THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY: Sprague returns to Martinsville (Va.) Speedway with something to prove. Last fall, Sprague started the Kroger 200 from the pole. Leading 26 of the 200 laps, Sprague battled rival Truck Series veteran Mike Skinner for the win narrowly missing a trip to victory lane by 0.729 seconds. Sprague and the
No. 2 RVs.com team roll into Martinsville (Va.) Speedway hoping to recapture last season’s magic and grab the victory.
STELLAR STATS: Sprague’s record at Martinsville is a phenomenal one. Sprague has led 12.1 percent of all Truck Series laps completed, second only to last year’s winner Mike Skinner. Sprague has the second highest drivers’ rating and clocks in as the fastest driver under green flag conditions. Sprague also has the highest average running position at the mid-point of all Martinsville events at 4.3.
TOP OF THE CHARTS: Sprague and the No. 2 RVs.com Chevrolet team headed to Martinsville (Va.) Speedway two weeks ago for the final scheduled NASCAR Truck Series test session of 2008. During the day’s first test session Sprague topped the charts with a lap of 20.062. Day two of testing brought much of the same result as Sprague lit-up the board during the morning session timing in quickest with a lap of 19.792. Sprague hopes to top last year’s finish and get his first win of 2008 this weekend at Martinsville.
HOMETOWN ADVANTAGE: Very few of the teams currently competing in NASCAR’s three divisions are located very far out of the Mooresville/Concord, N.C. area. Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) is based approximately 45 minutes southwest of the Martinsville area in Kernersville, N.C. KHI Co-owner DeLana Harvick hails from the Kernersville N.C. area.
CHASSIS HISTORY: The No. 2 RVs.com team will be using chassis No. 021 this weekend at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. This truck was the primary machine raced at California in February. Sprague and the No. 2 RVs.com team tested this chassis two weeks ago and topped the charts during both days at the famous paperclip shaped .526-mile oval.
STAPLE GOODS: On an average weekend the famous Martinsville hot dog is consumed by thousands of fans, crew members and drivers. A poll of the No. 2 RVs.com team found that on an average Martinsville weekend the team eats approximately 100 hot dogs. “When you go to Martinsville you always have to have a hot dog,” said spotter Andy Houston. “They may look gross but they are filling!”
MARTINSVILLE APPEARANCES: Sprague will be signing autographs at the Chevrolet Midway display on Saturday, March 27 at 11:10 a.m., EST.
Jack Sprague Quotes:
LAST FALL YOU NARROWLY MISSED A TRIP TO VICTORY LANE; TAKE US BACK TO THOSE LAST FEW LAPS?
“It was one of those races that we didn’t have many long green flag runs. We would run one or two laps before another caution came out. My truck took a few laps to come in, where Mike’s [Skinner] truck was good on short spurts which is what it took to win last year. I think it is one of those races that I probably should have won, but didn’t.”
THE TRUCK SERIES HAS BEEN COMING TO MARTINSVILLE (VA.) SPEEDWAY SINCE IT BEGAN; WHAT MAKES THIS TRACK SO EXCITING?
“Martinsville is just one of those old school places. It is good old hard-nosed short-track racing. Martinsville is a place where you can beat, bang, route and gouge and it is acceptable. The competition is also so close that it makes it fun.”
YOU HAVE BECOME VERY WELL KNOWN FOR YOUR SUCCESS AT SHORT TRACKS; WHAT’S YOUR SECRET?
“I think it is simply because short-track racing is what I grew up on. The ironic part is that when I first started truck racing I was really good on the oval tracks. It took me until August 1997 at the old Nashville half-mile to get my first short-track win.”
Ernie Cope Quotes:
MARTINSVILLE IS THE FIRST SHORT TRACK THE TRUCK SERIES HAS VISITED THIS SEASON; WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS AT THIS TRACK?
“I expect to perform like we should be doing every week. I would like to see our team be competitive all day and run in the top five.”
BRAKES ARE USUALLY A PROBLEM AT MARTINSVILLE; WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT TEAMS DO TO ALLEVIATE THAT ISSUE?
“Typically teams run extra blowers in the truck, anything that we can do to cool down the brakes. Brake overheating leads to brake malfunctioning. We like to do all we can to baby the brakes, even if that means sacrificing something else that we might do at other tracks.”
HOW MANY FAMOUS MARTINSVILLE HOT DOGS HAVE YOU EATEN IN ONE RACE WEEKEND?
“Last year we kept count and I think I was up to about 20 hot dogs over the race weekend. I love those things!”
About RVs.com:
RVs.com is a one-stop shopping and informational website for the recreation-vehicle enthusiast. Viewers can access real-time RV inventory, accessories, equipment and RV-lifestyle information. Features of RVs.com include new and used RV inventory and areas for private RV owners to sell RVs, obtain financing and insurance and purchase RV accessories or trailers. The user-friendly site also provides RV-lifestyle information about campgrounds, clubs, publications, safety, rallies, and events from around the country plus employment opportunities in the RV industry.
About FreedomRoads & Camping World:
FreedomRoads & Camping World is America’s largest RV and outdoor retailer serving a brisk and growing demand for the RV lifestyle. After having successfully co-located for several years at selected locations, FreedomRoads, a dynamic national network of well-established local and regional RV dealerships and Camping World, America’s largest direct marketer and specialty retailer of RV and outdoor camping accessories, service and RV sales, joined together to provide consumers with greater choice, convenience and value. Today, with revenues exceeding $1.7 billion, the company serves RV enthusiasts with more than 130 retail locations.
In addition to the sale, finance and service of recreational vehicles and specialty retail, FreedomRoads & Camping World also provides expanded products and services to enhance and protect the RV lifestyle. This includes: the President's Club customer loyalty program; in-store Performance Centers featuring RV and Car Insurance and Roadside Assistance Service; Camping World RV Institute technical certification/training program; Goodwill Ambassador Program; and the new campground discount program, Camp Club USA.
ABOUT KEVIN HARVICK INC.:
Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI), established in 2001, is a 70,000 sq. ft. facility located in Kernersville, N.C. KHI houses two full time Truck Series teams: the No. 33 Camping World/VFW Chevrolet Silverado driven by three-time Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday as well as the No. 2 American Commercial Lines (ACL)/RVs.com Chevrolet Silverado driven by three-time Truck Series champion Jack Sprague. KHI is also home to the No. 33 Camping World/RoadLoans.com/ Rheem Chevrolet driven by two-time Nationwide Series champion Kevin Harvick, Ron Hornaday and Cale Gale and the No. 77 Rheem/VFW Chevrolet driven by Cale Gale and Ron Hornaday competing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. 2008 marks KHI’s fifth year of full-time competition in NASCAR’s elite divisions. Please visit www.kevinharvickinc.com for more information.
QUICK NOTES
Race Info
March 29, 2008
Martinsville (Va.) Speedway
Kroger 250
Race length: 250 Laps/131.5 Miles
Banking/Turns: 12-degrees in turns
Track layout: 0.526-mile
Shape: Oval
Pre-Race Schedule
Friday:
Practice: 11:00-11:50 a.m., ET
Final Practice: 1:45-3:00 p.m., ET
Saturday:
Qualifying: 10:10 a.m., ET
TV: The Kroger 250 can be seen live on Fox at 3:00 p.m., ET
Radio: The Motor Racing Network (MRN) will broadcast live at 3:00 p.m., ET
Truck Specs
Chassis: 021
Engine: PME
