Kurt's fan from vegas
10-24-2000, 02:00 PM
New 2001 sponsor, title defense awaits Sprague
FONTANA, Calif. (Oct. 24, 2000)
Jack Sprague will announce his new sponsor for the 2001 NASCAR Craftsman Truck season prior to Saturday's Motorola 200.
While Jack Sprague's disgust at failing to defend his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship is huge, he is equally thrilled to return to California Speedway for Saturday's season finale Motorola 200.
After winning the last two NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events at California Speedway -- the 1999 version clinching his second series title by eight points over 2000 titleist Greg Biffle -- you know Sprague can't wait to get back the two-mile Fontana oval.
But while Sprague will be looking for a three-peat on the track, the driver of the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports GMAC Financial Services Chevrolet Silverado will also be in the spotlight when he and the team announce a new primary sponsor for the 2001 campaign prior to Saturday's season-ending NCTS race, which will be televised live on ESPN2 at 4 p.m. ET and broadcast on the affiliate network of MRN Radio.
"I think this is going to be a great deal for everyone involved," said Sprague, preferring to not name his new sponsor until the Saturday morning press conference in the California Speedway garage area. "Of course, it's going to be a great deal for me personally and for Hendrick Motorsports, but I think the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is really going to benefit from this new association. I think they are going to take primary sponsorship to a whole new level in the truck series and I'm really excited to be a part of that."
For the past two seasons, Sprague has sported the GMAC Financial Services logo and colors as the primary sponsor on his Hendrick Chevy Silverado. The company will remain with Sprague in 2001 as a major associate sponsor.
"The last two years have been very special," said Sprague, who finished second to two-time champion Ron Hornaday in the program's first year. "The GMAC people are the best I have ever worked with. They're not just my sponsor; they've become good friends.
"It was an honor to race for them the last two years and I'm glad we could deliver a series championship in 1999. I'm very pleased we're going to stay together on an associate basis next season."
Sprague captured the 1997 NCTS title in addition to the 1999 division crown. His 19 career victories (three this season) place him second in that category in NCTS history. Sprague is also the only driver to compete in all 145 NCTS events contested since the series was launched in 1995.
The 36-year-old driver, who is currently fifth in series points and has never finished outside the top-5 in the season standings, has 78 top-5 finishes (53 percent) in those starts and was the first to eclipse both $2 and $3 million in NCTS career winnings.
"We're obviously looking to improve on all of those marks in 2001," Sprague said. "We've always had the kind of people, equipment and financial resources at Hendrick Motorsports to make our Chevy trucks go fast. With this new sponsor, we're going to have that and more next year, so the competition better look out."
FONTANA, Calif. (Oct. 24, 2000)
Jack Sprague will announce his new sponsor for the 2001 NASCAR Craftsman Truck season prior to Saturday's Motorola 200.
While Jack Sprague's disgust at failing to defend his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship is huge, he is equally thrilled to return to California Speedway for Saturday's season finale Motorola 200.
After winning the last two NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events at California Speedway -- the 1999 version clinching his second series title by eight points over 2000 titleist Greg Biffle -- you know Sprague can't wait to get back the two-mile Fontana oval.
But while Sprague will be looking for a three-peat on the track, the driver of the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports GMAC Financial Services Chevrolet Silverado will also be in the spotlight when he and the team announce a new primary sponsor for the 2001 campaign prior to Saturday's season-ending NCTS race, which will be televised live on ESPN2 at 4 p.m. ET and broadcast on the affiliate network of MRN Radio.
"I think this is going to be a great deal for everyone involved," said Sprague, preferring to not name his new sponsor until the Saturday morning press conference in the California Speedway garage area. "Of course, it's going to be a great deal for me personally and for Hendrick Motorsports, but I think the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is really going to benefit from this new association. I think they are going to take primary sponsorship to a whole new level in the truck series and I'm really excited to be a part of that."
For the past two seasons, Sprague has sported the GMAC Financial Services logo and colors as the primary sponsor on his Hendrick Chevy Silverado. The company will remain with Sprague in 2001 as a major associate sponsor.
"The last two years have been very special," said Sprague, who finished second to two-time champion Ron Hornaday in the program's first year. "The GMAC people are the best I have ever worked with. They're not just my sponsor; they've become good friends.
"It was an honor to race for them the last two years and I'm glad we could deliver a series championship in 1999. I'm very pleased we're going to stay together on an associate basis next season."
Sprague captured the 1997 NCTS title in addition to the 1999 division crown. His 19 career victories (three this season) place him second in that category in NCTS history. Sprague is also the only driver to compete in all 145 NCTS events contested since the series was launched in 1995.
The 36-year-old driver, who is currently fifth in series points and has never finished outside the top-5 in the season standings, has 78 top-5 finishes (53 percent) in those starts and was the first to eclipse both $2 and $3 million in NCTS career winnings.
"We're obviously looking to improve on all of those marks in 2001," Sprague said. "We've always had the kind of people, equipment and financial resources at Hendrick Motorsports to make our Chevy trucks go fast. With this new sponsor, we're going to have that and more next year, so the competition better look out."