NASCAR Craftsman Truck Link-Belt Construction Equipment 225 Preview -- #24, Jack Sprague
10 July 1997
#24 Jack Sprague, Quaker State Chevrolet NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Link-Belt Construction Equipment 225 Louisville Motor Speedway QUAKER STATE DRIVER JACK SPRAGUE BRINGS HOT STREAK TO LOUISVILLE LOUISVILLE, KY - If Quaker State driver Jack Sprague needs any inspiration for this weekend's NASCAR Craftsman truck race, he need only look at the record book. In each of the prior races at Louisville, the winner has gone on to win the NASCAR Craftsman championship: Mike Skinner won the Ford Credit 200 in 1995 and Ron Hornaday won the Ford Dealers 200 in 1996. For both drivers, the victory was a springboard to that year's series championship. "We are on a hot streak right now," said Sprague who has won twice, finished second and fourth twice and posted 10 top-ten finishes this season. "We want to win at Louisville, but I look at every race as the key to the championship." Sprague finished eighth in last year's event at Louisville after two consecutive wins at Nazareth and Milwaukee. The Quaker State team was running third behind Hornaday and Joe Ruttman when Sprague spun out in the tri-oval, losing five positions. "We were trying to get to the inside on Turn 4 and got bumped from behind," noted Sprague. "Louisville is a tough track anyway, because of the change in elevation. The hills make it hard to find a consistent groove at this track." A tough course, Louisville Speedway is triangular in shape with distinct elevation changes uphill entering the first turn and downhill into the final bend. There were 22 caution flags in the two previous races and ground can be gained or lost quickly at Louisville. Currently, Sprague is second in the point standings with 1,789 points, 49 behind leader Rich Bickle, and he leads all drivers in money won at $244,680. "We'll take 'em one race at a time," said Sprague. "Who knows, if I win at Louisville maybe the Quaker State team will win the 1997 championship, but I won't stop there." By Muhleman Marketing