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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