For only the second time in NASCAR Camping World Truck Series history, the series' tough drivers truck or treated on Halloween night. Jack Sprague knew anything could and probably would happen during the 147-lap event at Texas Motor Speedway and for the No. 60 Wyler.com Toyota Tundra, the unexpected did happen. Right from the start of the race, before the team was able to complete one lap around the 1.5-mile quad-oval, there was a multi-truck incident that the three-time NCTS champion safely maneuvered his way through. Steadily moving through the field, Sprague broke into the top-ten by lap 58 and looked to be on his way to his first top-ten finish with Wyler Racing in the 2008 season, but bad luck struck halfway through the final green flag run, as Sprague's Tundra suddenly became loose, which hindered his progress through the field and relegating the team to a 15th-place finish.
"Tonight's race was definitely interesting," said Sprague. "Our No. 60 Wyler.com Toyota Tundra started off tight but was getting better with the adjustments that we were making. Then all of sudden halfway through the last green flag run, I got really, really loose and I honestly don't know what happened. I was using the fans (bead blowers) in the truck to help me not lose any more positions but I just kept working through the conditions even though they weren't getting better. It's frustrating to be running near the top ten and suddenly lose five positions, but we'll just head to Phoenix next week and see if we can break into the top-ten."
With two races remaining in the 2008 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season, Sprague and the No. 60 Wyler Racing team hope to improve their recent finishes and end the season on a high note. In addition, Wyler Racing is still searching for sponsorship for the 2009 Truck Series season to keep the Spring Lake, MI native with the team and regain the momentum that the pair had in the past, including the 2007 Daytona win.
"Right now, we have two races to go this season and I'm hoping to get a couple of better finishes for the Wyler Family," Sprague said. "But past these next two races at Phoenix and Homestead, I have no idea what's in the future. I mean, if they got sponsorship obviously we will continue on but things are pretty tough right now in the economy. 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. 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."
Even though the veteran didn't receive the biggest treat of the night, Sprague remains in the ninth position in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship point standings. Sprague is just 14 points behind Dennis Setzer for the eighth position.
Jack Sprague and Wyler Racing will return to action this Friday night, November 7, 2008 as the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series heads to Phoenix International Raceway for the running of the Lucas Oil 150. Sprague, who has three wins and has holds the best average at the Arizona track, will take the green flag shortly after 9:00 p.m. Eastern. SPEED will have live television coverage of the 147-lap event, beginning at 8:30 p.m. Eastern with the NCTS Set-up. Select affiliates of MRN Radio, along with Sirius NASCAR Radio Channel 128 and XM Radio Channel 104 will also have the live radio broadcast.