Sprague Retains Busch Series Lead at Milwaukee

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (July 3, 2002) -- Jack Sprague and his NetZero Chevrolet battled extreme heat and untimely misfortune to score a 14th-place finish in the GNC Live Well 250 NASCAR Busch Series race at The Milwaukee Mile on Sunday in West Allis, Wis. The effort allowed the three-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion to retain the lead in the overall Busch Series standings, 46 points ahead of second-place Greg Biffle. "I really think I started the race with the best vehicle I've had at Milwaukee," said Sprague, who qualified 18th for event. "I've had some really good trucks at Milwaukee in the past and won races in those trucks and believed I had a car that could win after Happy Hour. “The way it was running before we pitted for the first time was really good, but then I got in that mess with Tony Raines on pit road. I don't really know what happened. I was on my way down pit road and got hit. It's a shame because the NetZero car was fast and running at the front. It just ruined our chances of winning and had us fighting to be in a decent position at the end of the day." Sprague's long day of playing catch-up started early with bit of fender rubbing with the No. 40 car of Brian Vickers. He managed to keep the No. 24 out of trouble and was racing through the field by lap 25, turning lap times quicker than the leader. The team’s run to the front took a sudden turn on lap 49 when Sprague collided with Tony Raines as the pair raced off pit road. The NetZero Chevy suffered front-end damage forcing the driver to return to pit road several times as his crew tried to readjust the tow in the front of his car. "I don't know what happened with Tony, but it definitely didn't feel right after that,” said Sprague. “Something definitely felt loose which ended up being the tow. “I couldn't believe it. Every week something seems to go on that I just can't believe, but I knew my guys would do what they could to keep me on the lead lap." Fighting an ill-handling race car, Sprague managed to stay on the lead lap until a late-race spin and subsequent pit stop put him a lap down to the eventual winner, Biffle. Sprague finished 14th, earning $17,260 for the performance. Next up for Sprague and the NetZero Chevy will be the Stacker 2/GNC Live Well 250 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. The event will take the green flag on Friday night, July 5 at 8 p.m. EDT. The 18th of 34 NASCAR Busch Series races this season will be telecast live on FX and broadcast on MRN Radio worldwide.