Sprague Records First Top-five Finish of 2008 as KHI Finishes
One-two at Kansas
 KANSAS CITY, Kan. (April 28, 2008) --- Jack Sprague and the
Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) No. 2 American Commercial Lines (ACL)
Chevrolet recorded their first top-five finish of the 2008
season Saturday in the O’Reilly Auto Parts 250 at Kansas
Speedway. The second-place finish behind KHI teammate Ron
Hornaday moved the team from 15th to ninth in the Truck Series
point standings.
“I wanted this one really bad,” said Sprague following the race.
“But I’m not going to complain about finishing second. I used up
all my stuff trying to come back up through the field. I gave
Hornaday all I had but I just ran out of time.
I’m really proud of this team,” continued Sprague. “I know
coming into this year everyone saw us coming into to a
championship organization, which it is but my team is brand new.
To be able in just five races to come together and run as strong
as we have says a lot about KHI and this team. I’m really proud
of them and I know we will get a win soon, but man I wanted this
one really bad.”
Starting from the third position, Sprague and teammate Hornaday
pulled away from the rest of the field. Under the first caution
of the day on lap 27, the team came to pit road for four tires,
fuel and an air pressure adjustment. The team had a fast pit
stop and beat Hornaday off pit road. A few truck elected to stay
on track, patiently working his way through the slower traffic,
Sprague was finally able to lead his first of eight laps of the
race following the stop on lap 46.
On lap 65, when much of the rest of the field came to pit road,
Sprague and the KHI No.2 ACL team decided to gamble on fuel
strategy and stay out, only to see the caution wave seven laps
later. The team’s hand was forced and they had to come to pit
road for four tires and fuel relegating him to the 25th position
for the restart.
Sprague exhibited great patience, methodically easing his way
back toward the front. By lap 91, Sprague had moved up 10
positions. The team came to pit road under caution on lap 109
with the rest of the field and was now back on sequence with the
leaders. After the stop crew chief Ernie Cope asked Sprague to
conserve fuel as the team calculated that they would be two laps
short if the race continued to the finish under green-flag
conditions.
With fresh tires, Sprague began passing trucks on the outside,
moving up aggressively through the field. With eight laps to go,
the second-place truck slammed the wall in front of Sprague,
leaving a showdown between the two most successful drivers in
series history to battle for the win. However, Sprague and
Hornaday’s trucks were too evenly matched. Despite a number of
maneuvers to overtake his teammate, Sprague was not able to pass
Hornaday and crossed the finish line in the second position. It
was KHI’s first one-two finish in the Truck Series.
POST-RACE LINKS:
•
Race Results
•
Driver Standings
•
Race Photos
AUDIO FILES:
•
Post-Race Interview With Jack Sprague
•
Jack Sprague Talks About His Strong Finish
and the Potential of His New Team
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