Busch Series Ready for Sunday Showcase

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (June 27, 2002) -- As the NASCAR Winston Cup Series takes a well-deserved weekend vacation, the rested teams of the NASCAR Busch Series come off their own break, resuming competition this Sunday at The Milwaukee Mile in West Allis, Wis. Two Hendrick Motorsports entries are prepared to tackle the one-mile oval, with Jack Sprague atop the driver standings and Ricky Hendrick fresh off his best finish of 2002. After 16 events, Sprague owns a 68-point lead over second-place Scott Riggs going into a rare Sunday afternoon Busch Series event. The three-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion has been the most consistent performer on the circuit this season with an impressive 11 top-10 finishes, including six top fives and one victory. Sprague, the driver of the No. 24 NetZero Chevrolet, finished a disappointing 16th in the most recent Busch Series race on June 16 at Kentucky Speedway in Ft. Mitchell, Ky., but managed to hold the points lead for the third consecutive week. Hendrick is coming off his first career top 10 in the Busch Series after finishing eighth overall at Kentucky. The driver of the No. 5 GMAC Monte Carlo started 14th, battling his way up front to take his first lead of the season just before weather postponed competition, turning the Saturday evening event into a rain-delayed Sunday affair After starting only 10 of 16 races this season due to a shoulder injury suffered at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 2, the 22-year-old Charlotte, N.C., native is currently 28th in driver points going into Milwaukee this weekend, a one-position improvement after his Kentucky performance. Sunday’s GNC Live Well 250, the 17th Busch Series race of 2002, will be broadcast live from The Milwaukee Mile on MRN Radio affiliates and the FX television network beginning at 1:30 p.m. EDT.