Jack Sprague not sure what 2009 Truck series season will bring
FORT WORTH, Texas – Jack Sprague is staring down the possibility of his first winless season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. The three-time champion is also staring down a future that is in limbo.
Sprague, who reunited with Wyler Racing last month after being released as driver of the No. 2 truck at Kevin Harvick Inc., plans to run the final two races of 2008 with his current group. Beyond that, he’s not sure of his plans.
Like so many truck teams, Wyler is searching for a full-time primary sponsor for its No. 60 Toyotas. Sprague was brought on to help the team for which he drove in 2006 and 2007 evaluate its program after Wyler parted ways with driver Terry Cook along the same time that Sprague left KHI.
“I have no idea,” Sprague said when asked if he could drive for the team beyond 2008. “I mean, if they got sponsorship obviously we continue on but things are pretty tough. Hopefully, we can find something to keep them in racing regardless of if I drive it or not but my main goal is to keep the Wylers in it because NASCAR needs owners like this – there’s no doubt about it. They’re absolutely wonderful people and they enjoy the sport. Hopefully, we can get something put together with an up-and-comer that has some money or something to keep this team going.
“It won’t take much to get it back in the shape it was when we used to win races here. We just need to keep going.”
Sprague, one of only two three-time Truck series champions, hasn’t made any commitments for next season as of now.
“There’s not much out there to be honest with you,” said the driver who owns 28 career wins but none in his last 47 starts. “The economy has really hurt everything, not just this sport.
“Who knows? I have no clue in the world what I want to do next year. I didn’t expect to be in this situation so I wasn’t really looking. Now it’s pretty late in the game.”
Sprague has made at least two starts in every truck season since the series started in 1995. In all but one of those years – 2003 - he ran the full schedule.
But the possibility of not having a ride for 2009 could become a reality for Sprague.
“If the economy was strong right now, I probably wouldn’t be sitting here without options, but it’s not so we’ll just have to see what happens and go with it,” he said. “Hopefully, I’m driving and if I’m not, then I’ll figure out something else.”
As for his departure from KHI, Sprague shoulders part of the blame, noting that he could have been more proactive in helping the No. 2 team find ways to run better. He also cites a lack of sponsorship.
Sprague was released from KHI after 20 starts, which produced five top-fives and nine top-10s.
“I’ve been in slumps before and gone through the ups and the downs but the frustrating part is having something that fast and not being able to get the results,” Sprague said. “It’s probably partly my own fault. I should have spoke up. I felt things needed to be a little different, but I didn’t say anything. I was advised that if they could see it they’ll fix it and I didn’t raise no trouble and I just kept going along. Maybe that’s my own fault.
“If I’d have tried to say something and maybe tried to fix it, if they didn’t listen at least I’d feel like I tried and I’m a little bit upset with myself for the fact that I didn’t speak up.”
Sprague also regrets not learning sooner that he would be released.
“The results weren’t there,” he said. “I didn’t like that the results weren’t there. They didn’t like that the results weren’t there.
“It’s weird. I know we were having a frustrating year, but I also know we were fast. I never had a clue that it was going to go down the way it did, especially with five races to go. I never saw it coming, basically. I understand - I just wish I would have known a little something.”
With his future in the series uncertain, Sprague hopes to make the most of what will possibly be his last two races with Wyler. But even if he doesn’t win this season, he’s not going to question his ability.
“There’s a lot of great race car drivers across all these fences that haven’t won a race this year,” Sprague said. “Do I think they can still drive? Certainly. You’re telling me Jeff Gordon can’t drive? I know better than that … so sometimes you just have years like that.”
