Busch Teams Disappointed at Bristol

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Aug. 27, 2002) -- Jack Sprague and Ricky Hendrick finished 28th and 29th respectively at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway on Friday in the Food City 250 NASCAR Busch Series event. Sprague, a three-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion, started 34th after a disappointing qualifying effort on Thursday put him near the back of the 43-car field. Team NetZero made multiple chassis adjustments to improve the car’s handling, but a pileup on lap 35 caused severe damage to the No. 24 Chevy, closing the door on any shot at a top finish at Bristol. Thirty laps down, Sprague finished the event 28th and remains third in the overall Busch Series driver standings. Driving the No. 5 GMAC Chevrolet, Hendrick’s weekend started with a solid lap during Food City 250 qualifying, putting him in the 13th starting position after picking up time from practice earlier in the day. Unfortunately, the team was forced to take the car to the garage during the race because of a fluid leak, going multiple laps down to the leaders. Finishing 35 laps off the pace, Hendrick brought home 29th and remains 26th in driver points. Jimmy Spencer earned his first Busch Series victory of the 2002 season, leading the most laps and beating out second-place Scott Wimmer for the checkered flag. The Busch Series next visits Darlington (S.C.) Raceway on Saturday, Aug. 31 at 1 p.m. EDT. The race will be broadcast live on TNT and MRN Radio.