LOUDON, New — Hampshire -- Jack Sprague and the No. 2 Camping World, Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) Chevrolet team overcame a pit road miscue to record a ninth-place finish Saturday in the Camping World RV Rental 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
“Ernie (Cope, crew chief) and the guys gave me a great truck,” said Sprague. “We were tight on that first run, but we adjusted on it during the first pit stop. The guys had such a great stop; they got me out in front of a bunch of other trucks. However, we got hit with an ‘uncontrolled tire’ penalty and that put us at the back of the field. From there, track position was everything and it was just really hard to pass, my truck would get so aero tight behind another truck. We came out of here with a top-10 finish in the No. 2 Camping World Chevrolet, but it could have been a lot better had we been able to keep our track position.”
Sprague began the race from the ninth position after qualifying was cancelled due to rain and was set according to the NASCAR rule book based on the 2008 Owner’s Point standings.
Under the third caution of the race on lap 50, the team came to pit road for their first scheduled pit stop of the day. The team took four tires, fuel and made track bar and air pressure adjustments. A fast pit stop gained Sprague two positions, moving him into fourth place. However, Sprague was sent to the end of the longest line for an ‘uncontrolled tire’ penalty, forcing the No. 2 Camping World Chevrolet to restart from the 25th position. By lap 107, Sprague had driven up through the field and was scored in the 15th position.
Sprague battled an aero tight condition (closely following the trucks ahead causes the front tires to not turn as efficiently) as he continued to work his way through traffic. A string of cautions late helped bunch up the field, as Sprague was able to capitalize and come away with his ninth top-10 finish of the 2008 season, crossing the finish line in the ninth position.
STATS RECAP
Race Info
September 13, 2008
New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Race: 18 of 25
Driver: Jack Sprague
Started: 9th
Finished: 9th
Truck Series Point Standings: 8th
First Practice: 1st
(29.948 seconds, 127.180 mph)
Final Practice: 2nd
(30.207 seconds, 126.090 mph)
Next on the Schedule for the No. 2:
Date: September 20, 2008
Track: Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Event Name: Qwik Liner Las Vegas 350
Driver: Jack Sprague
Broadcast Time: Speed Channel 9:30 p.m., EST; MRN 9:30 p.m., EST
