---

NASCAR BGN: Jack Sprague looks forward to Busch start in Texas

29 March 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

On Texas . . . Jack Sprague is no stranger to Texas Motor Speedway. He has three starts at the 1.5-mile tri-oval in Craftsman Truck Series competition. The "Albertson's 300 presented by Pop Secret" will mark Sprague's first appearance at Texas in NASCAR Busch Series, Grand National Division competition. To prepare for his Busch Series debut at the facility, Sprague and the Albertson's Racing Team spent three days testing at Texas two weeks ago.

"Texas is a fast and competitive track," Sprague said. "The track has a lot of grip so the Busch cars will be flying around that track. There is really only one groove at Texas which is towards the bottom of the track, so that doesn't leave a lot of room for passing. Texas is a big race for Albertson's and we're going to do what we can to get the No. 15 Chevrolet Monte Carlo in victory lane."

About the Car ... Crew Chief Chris Carrier is pleased with the car that will be competing in the Albertson's 300 and looking forward to the race.

"We are running the same car we had in Las Vegas," Carrier said. "We had a pretty good car there but we had to redo the body from the accident and put a new engine in it. We tested the car a few weeks ago and it is actually running better than ever. When made long race situation runs and quite a few qualifying runs with the car and were extremely satisfied with the results of both. We had unfortunate incidents in the first two races and the Albertson's 300 is the place for this team to turn the season around."

On Sprague ... The team will compete in 10 Busch events in 2000 with the Albertson's 300 being race number three. The Andy Petree Racing Busch Series team is only in its second year, and this is the first year with driver Jack Sprague.

"Jack is new to this team and there is still a good share of unfamiliarity on all fronts," Carrier said. "We need to make Jack more comfortable in the cars we build for him. When we can get Jack comfortable in the car, he gains more confidence in us as a team and the better the No. 15 Albertson's Chevrolet is going to do. We have figured out some things that are going to help all of us communicate better at the race track so we can give him a race car capable of winning."

Text provided by Heather Kincel

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.