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| SPRAGUE: Ready to Repeat at Memphis
06-26-2007 | TruckSeries.com Report
Just as the world associate's Elvis Pressley to Graceland, Jack Sprague should be associated to Memphis Motorsports Park. Even though the three-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series' Champion doesn't hail from Memphis, there's something about the ¾-mile track that suits Sprague's driving style. Sprague is returning to Memphis Motorsports Park this weekend as the defending race winner who led a dominating 133 laps from the pole to claim the win in last year's O'Reilly 200. "We have always run well at Memphis," explained Sprague. "I really like the track. I have gotten a couple of pole's there and have two wins, so I feel like I have a good feel for how to drive the track. My Con-way Freight team won there last year, so I am confident going in that we have a truck that is capable of winning. Like every short track, track position is key. You have to stay out of trouble to be there at the end." Jack Sprague would like to win in Memphis, not only to add another trophy to his collection, but to dedicate the win to his fallen friend and fellow racer, Bobby Hamilton, Sr., who died earlier this year from terminal head and neck cancer at the age of 49. Tennessee's Governor has declared June 30th as "Bobby Hamilton Day" at Memphis Motorsports Park and it would be special for Sprague to win in honor of his fallen friend. "Bobby was such a great guy and a true racer," said Sprague. "It would mean a lot to win on Saturday in the race that is dedicated to his memory." Sprague's memories of Hamilton run deep. The two raced side-by-side in heated battles as two of the Craftsman Truck Series' most seasoned veterans, but managed to maintain their friendship both on and off the track. "You knew you could count on Bobby," said Sprague. Sprague and Hamilton last raced together at Memphis Motorsports Park in 2005 when the pair sat alongside each other on the second row for the start of the O'Reilly 200. Hamilton went on to finish 6th while Sprague took the checkered flag in 13th. "Bobby was a good, hard, racer," continued Sprague. "It's hard to believe we'll be returning to Memphis without Bobby this year." "I don't know that Memphis is any tougher than anywhere else," explained Sprague. "It's just Memphis is just a little different track. One and two is certainly a different corner than three and four. You have to compromise so you can get around both corners well and that's hard to do. The first time I won there was a bit of luck. The second time I won there wasn't. We had a great truck last year with the Con-way Freight Toyota. But it's just a hard track to get a hold of. It eats tires. And it gets slippery and you've just got to be handling well." "I think Memphis favors drivers that have been there a few times and know what to expect," said Sprague. "If you haven't, it will certainly surprise you because it's very difficult to get a hold of." Jack Sprague Helped Honor Con-way Freight's Million-Milers Jack Sprague Signs the Memphis Marriott Downtown Sprague's NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Career Stats at Memphis
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