Chevy Truck Challenge To Get Underway Friday
16 January 1998
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., - Defending NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Jack Sprague will be among a record field of 65 drivers taking to Walt Disney World Speedway on Friday morning for practice laps as the Chevy Trucks Challenge gets underway.
Jack Sprague, 1997 NCTS Champion
Practice for the season-opening event starts at 11 a.m., with another practice session scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on the 1-mile tri-oval. The draw for the order that the trucks will attempt to qualify Saturday afternoon will take place at 8 p.m. Friday at Downtown Disney Pleasure Island. Driver changes: Rob Morgan has replaced Brian Cunningham as driver of the #57 Ford NASCAR Craftsman Truck. Cunningham suffered a wrist injury in a non-racing accident in England. Morgan will carry his Axiom sponsorship to the team.
Billy Bigley, a Southeastern late-model driver, will drive the #26 Mittler Brothers Tool & Machine Ford.
Dave Stacy, a veteran of the Goody's Dash series from Ohio, will return to the NCTS for the first time since 1995 as the driver of the #12 Blake Racing Chevrolet. Stacy finished 17th at Indianapolis Raceway Park in 1995, his only other appearance in the NCTS.
Rich Bickle, who finished second in the NCTS championship points standings last season, was in the garage area Thursday working on a deal to race in the Chevy Trucks Challenge. Bickle earned a $50,000 bonus last year for winning the Chevy Like A Rock Award, given to the Chevrolet driver who finished the most laps during the season.
Local flavor: Five Florida residents are among the entrants for the Chevy Trucks Challenge. Drivers from the Sunshine State:
oBilly Bigley, Naples, Mittler Bros. Tool & Machine Ford
oMonty Klein, Ocala, Redding Motorsports Chevrolet
oMichael Dokken, Clearwater, Dokken Motorsports Chevrolet
oWayne Anderson, Wildwood, Porter-Cable Power Tools Ford
oJoe Nemechek, Lakeland, BellSouth Mobility Chevrolet
Chevy Trucks Challenge tickets: Tickets for the Chevy Trucks Challenge are available by calling Ticketmaster, (407) 839-3900 (Orlando) or (813) 287-8844 (Tampa).
On the airwaves: The Chevy Trucks Challenge will be broadcast live at noon Sunday on ESPN and the radio affiliates of the NASCAR Truck Network.
Silver Crown makes debut: USAC Silver Crown Championship cars will make their debut at Walt Disney World Speedway on Friday. Practice starts at 10 a.m., with qualifying getting underway at 3 p.m.
Defending Indy Racing League champion Tony Stewart and 1997 runner-up Davey Hamilton are among the 51 drivers entered in the event. Defending Silver Crown series champion Dave Darland also is entered. Stewart and Hamilton also will race in the Indy 200 Presented by Aurora on Jan. 24.
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