US FIGURES:
Veteran driver and three-time Truck Series champion Jack
Sprague has competed in six events at Daytona (Fla.)
International Speedway, collecting one win, two top-five and two
top-10 finishes. Last season, Sprague started from the pole
position and went on to win the race.
COMPETING FOR A REPEAT:
In last year’s season opener at Daytona, Sprague beat Johnny
Benson and Travis Kvapil to the checkered flag by a minuscule
0.031 seconds; one of the closest finishes in Truck Series
history. Sprague returns to Daytona to defend his win with a new
organization, Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI), a new teammate, Ron
Hornaday, a new crew and a new sponsor, American Commercial
Lines.
AND THE WINNERS ARE…:
With the addition of three-time Truck Series champion Jack
Sprague to the KHI roster for 2008, KHI now has the distinct
advantage of having all three 2007 series opening winners in
house. Sprague won the 2007 season opener with one of the
closest finishes in Truck Series history by holding off Travis
Kvapil and Johnny Benson. For the Nationwide Series and Sprint
Cup Series openers, KHI team co-owner Harvick swept the weekend
leading Dave Blaney across the finish line for the Nationwide
Series win and narrowly edging out Mark Martin for his first
Daytona 500 victory. For 2008, one goal is in place for the
season openers, repeat last year’s victories and bring the wins
home to KHI.
CHASSIS HISTORY:
The No. 2 American Commercial Lines team will begin a brand
new season with a brand new chassis. No.020 will make its debut
February 15th in the Chevy Silverado 250. The team tested this
chassis during preseason testing and likes the feel and balance
of the truck.
PERFECT ON THE POLE:
Sprague comes into the 2008 season as the Truck Series
leader for most pole positions. Last year at this time, Sprague
claimed his first victory at Daytona (Fla.) International
Speedway winning from the pole position. Nine of Sprague’s 28
career wins have come from the pole position.
BACK TO THE BOWTIE:
After competing in a Chevrolet the majority of his career,
Sprague made the decision to move to another manufacturer late
in the 2005 season. Two years later Sprague is back behind the
wheel of a bowtie as he joins KHI. Sprague claimed all three of
his Truck Series championships driving under the Chevrolet
banner. Sprague joins Truck Series drivers Ron Hornaday, Matt
Crafton, Brendon Gaughan and a host of others competing for the
2008 Championship for the bowtie brigade.
FAMILIAR NAME, NEW ROLE:
Andy Houston joins KHI and the No. 2 American Commercial Lines
Chevrolet team as spotter for Sprague. His father Tommy was
recently inducted into the National Motorsports Press
Association Hall of Fame. The younger Houston was once a
prominent figure in all three of NASCAR’s elite series making
121 Truck Series, seven Nationwide, and 22 Sprint Cup Series
starts. Houston’s driving career spanned from 1996-2005. He has
driven for such notables as Cal Wells, Felix Sabates and Ed
Rensi. Hanging up his helmet in 2005, Houston brings years of
experience as a driver and now translates his knowledge to be
the eye in the sky for veteran driver Sprague.
A DIFFERENT KIND OF RACE:
It is well known that the driver of the No. 2 American
Commercial Lines Chevrolet, Jack Sprague, and teammate Ron
Hornaday are friends on and off the track. However, there is
always a healthy dose of competition running through their
veins, no matter what they are doing. During the off season
Sprague took Hornaday back to his home state of Michigan to
enjoy some extracurricular competition. Sprague and Hornaday
went snowmobiling taking in a foot of fresh powder. Was there
any racing involved? “Actually we kept things pretty tame," said
Sprague. "I was afraid that Hornaday might have a little more
trouble than he did. I did not know he had been snowmobiling
before. We had a lot of fun. Michigan is beautiful that time of
year and when you get to pal around with a friend like Hornaday
it’s always cool.”
DAYTONA APPEARANCES: Sprague will be signing
autographs while in the Daytona Beach area for Speedweeks at the
Volusia Mall Sears Wednesday, February 13 from 6:00-7:30 p.m.
and at the Chevrolet Racing Display at the Daytona (Fla.)
International Speedway Midway Friday, February 15 from 3:30-4:15
p.m.
Jack Sprague Quotes:
LAST YEAR, LAST LAP AT DAYTONA, YOU ARE IN A POSITION TO
WIN, WHAT WAS IT LIKE?
“I had so much adrenaline pumping, just thinking about the
win. I knew Johnny [Benson] was behind me and I was pretty sure
he was going to go with me. I thought he pulled out a lap too
soon, but I knew I had to go with him or I was going to be hung
out to dry. We pulled out and tried it. I never thought after we
pulled out that I would be sitting in victory lane that night,
but it happened and it was awesome.”
THIS YEAR YOU HAVE A TEAMMATE TO WORK WITH, DO
YOU THINK THAT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
“I’m definitely going to try and draft with Hornaday. I hope
that we can work together to push each other across the line at
the checkered flag. To be honest I would love to be first, but
if it’s he and I at the end, it will be fun. I just want to stay
out of trouble all day and be there like we were last year to
contend for the win.”
YOU ARE GOING INTO YOUR 12TH FULL-TIME SEASON IN
THE TRUCK SERIES, WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS THIS YEAR?
“Ultimately I still want to compete for wins and the
championship. I have a little bit of a learning curve to
overcome this year beginning with a new organization, new team
and a new crew chief. However, I really believe that Hornaday
and I are in some of the best equipment in Truck Series
competition right now. I ultimately would like to finish one-two
in the point standings this year, it will be tough but I think
we can do it.”
Ernie Cope Quotes:
WHAT WOULD IT MEAN FOR YOU TO WIN AT DAYTONA? “Winning
at Daytona would be huge, not only because it’s winning at
Daytona, but because it would set the tone for the season. I
would be excited if we helped Jack repeat, but I would be more
proud for the guys. We work all winter to make these trucks what
they are and winning at Daytona would be validation that all
those long days, nights and weekends pay off.”
HOW WILL NEW SPACER RULE AFFECT THE HANDLING OF
THE TRUCK?
“For Daytona it really is not changing things that
much. However, when we get to California and Atlanta it really
loosens up the trucks and slows them down.”
WHAT ARE YOUR KEYS TO WINNING AT DAYTONA?
“Miss the crash, have clean pit stops and pick the correct
lane at the end. Since KHI now has two trucks competing at
Daytona, I feel like the last key we already have is with a
drafting partner in Ron [Hornaday].”
ABOUT AMERICAN COMMERCIAL LINES:
American Commercial Lines is a leader in the marine
transportation and manufacturing business. Through its
subsidiary companies, ACL owns and operates approximately 2,800
barges and 160 towboats; transporting a vast array of cargos
such as grain, coal, steel, chemicals, petroleum products,
edible oils, fertilizers and construction materials on the U.S.
inland waterways. ACL also owns the largest single-site
manufacturing facility for vessels in the United States,
offering technically advanced marine design and manufacturing
capabilities for both inland and ocean service vessels. ACL is
publicly traded on NASDAQ under the symbol ACLI. For more
information about ACL generally, visit
www.aclines.com.