DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (February 18, 2008)--- For Jack Sprague and the No. 2 American Commercial Lines (ACL) Chevrolet team, the 2008 NASCAR Truck Series season began with a bang, but did not end the way they were hoping for at the Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.

Over the course of the race weekend Sprague and team battled a loose handling race truck. For Thursday’s qualifying session the team had a late draw, but Sprague was able to take advantage and put his No. 2 ACL Chevrolet into the sixth position only eight one hundredth’s of a second behind teammate Ron Hornaday.

Friday’s race day began with high hopes. However, as the race progressed Sprague and team found themselves with some obstacles to overcome not being able to end speed weeks at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway the way they had hoped to.

As the green flag fell Sprague radioed to the crew that the truck was really loose on the bottom of the race track. Spotter Andy Houston helped Sprague settle into position in the high groove to help the handling of his truck.

By lap nine Sprague radioed crew chief Ernie Cope that he was just “cruising along” because the truck was too loose to do anything else. Sprague tried to bide his time until the first scheduled pit stop so that the team could make adjustments. A break came for the No. 2 ACL team as the caution waived for the first time on lap 10. Sprague brought the No. 2 ACL Chevrolet down pit road for four tires, fuel and a wedge adjustment.

As competition resumed Sprague had fallen back to the 22nd position. At lap 18, Sprague radioed the crew to let them know that things were getting “dicey” on the race track. “These guys are getting ready to wreck,” said Sprague. Moments later a crash ensued on the backstretch. Sprague relied on spotter Houston to guide him through the wreckage. Sprague did his best to avoid the melee however he caught a small piece of the action with his left front fender, severely damaging the splitter of the truck.

The No. 2 ACL team remained calm as they brought the truck to pit road for repairs. Making four consecutive trips down pit lane for repairs the team cut the fender to try and avoid a tire rub. The crew also replaced all four Goodyear Wrangler tires and topped off with fuel. Believing they had their damage repaired, the team sent Sprague back to work for the restart on lap 22. However, due to the numerous repairs the team had to spend extra time on pit lane and went one lap down to the leaders.

On lap 23 the caution flew for the third time of the evening. Sprague was able to avoid any additional damage but came to pit road for four tires-as he believed he had flat spotted his tires trying to avoid the wreck.

The caution flew for the fourth time on lap 36 and Sprague was the recipient of the ‘lucky dog’ award returning him to the lead lap.

On lap 42 the team experienced a set back due to the damage sustained in the first wreck. Sprague radioed that he had a left front tire flat. The team jumped to action, changed the tire and tried to remove more of the left front splitter to avoid a future tire rub. The unscheduled pit stop threw Sprague three laps down to the leaders. The team did not lose heart as spotter Houston pointed out that the No. 2 ACL Chevrolet was the only truck multiple laps down and could potentially gain the laps lost back by being the recipient of the ‘lucky dog’ award again.

As the race half-way mark approached the team continued to struggle with an ill-handling race truck. After sustaining the early damage, Sprague told his crew that he was tight through the corners.

On lap 73 the team returned to pit road to change another flat left front tire. The team decided to make a four tire stop, remove tape from the grill, and add fuel so they could make it to the end of the race.

As the laps wound down Sprague and team continued to rally. Remaining cognizant of the trucks on the same lap, they raced until the checkered flag dropped ending the race in the 19th finishing position.

“It was just a tough night for our American Commercial Lines Silverado,” commented Sprague after the race. “I think the truck was actually better after we had all of our troubles. I was really loose to begin with, and then I kept cutting left front tires from them rubbing on the left front fender. That is where I lost all of my laps. What do you do? We will just go on to California and get them there. I knew the way these trucks were driving, it was going to be a wreck fest and it was. But we were fast and I know my crew chief Ernie (Cope) and the guys would have kept adjusting on it to get it good at the end when we needed to be.”