Jack Sprague celebrates his win last week at Texas. Credit: AP

Sprague looks to keep momentum at Michigan

Following win at Texas, former series champ feeling less pressure

Jack Sprague picked the perfect time for his first Craftsman Truck Series win of the season. Heading to his home state this weekend, he'd like to make it two in a row.

Sprague won the 25th Truck race of his career at Texas Motor Speedway last weekend. Now, Sprague, a native of Spring Lake, Mich., is one of the favorites to win Saturday's Paramount Health Insurance 200 at Michigan International Speedway.

	Sprague celebrates his 25th career NCTS victory. Credit: AP
	Inside the Numbers Jack Sprague at Michigan Year Start Finish 1999 5 4 2000 15 13 2004 9 27 Average 9.7 14.7

"I feel like the weight of the world has been lifted off my shoulders," Sprague said. "The win in Texas was a team effort and much deserved by everyone on the team. We have been so close last season and this season. Friday night, we were able to put everything together and go to Victory Lane."

Sprague has one top-five finish in three previous starts at Michigan, with a fourth in 1999.

"Racing at Michigan International Speedway is always a great experience for me," Sprague said. "The track is near my hometown so we will have family and friends coming in for the race. It is a chance for my family and I to see people we don't get much opportunity to see during the year."

Sprague had engine problems in last year's race, finishing 27th after starting ninth.

"We had a decent top-10 run going last year when we lost the engine with just eight laps to go," Sprague said. "The momentum from our win at Texas is a good basis to start the weekend. We need to keep it going by having a strong run and possibly take another trip to the winner's circle."

Sprague and three other drivers were scheduled to spend Thursday in Ft. Wayne, Ind., checking out the General Motors Silverado Assembly Plant.

"It is always great to have the opportunity to meet GM assembly plant employees but this will be awesome to meet the people who build the Silverado trucks and really support our efforts in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series," he said. "It is also a great opportunity to see many of the people from Chevrolet's base of operation in Detroit.

"It gives us a chance to thank them for the support they give us in Team Silverado and hopefully, get a win for them right in their own backyard."

In addition to Chevy Truck regulars Sprague, Dennis Setzer, David Starr and Ron Hornaday, Bobby Labonte, Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch will pull Nextel Cup double duty.

Setzer will team up with Bobby Labonte, making his third Truck appearance. Labonte was second at Atlanta and won the Martinsville race. Busch, who won back-to-back Truck races at Charlotte and Dover, returns for start No. 3 in the No. 15 Chevrolet. Harvick, who owns Hornaday's Truck, will have an identical paint scheme for Michigan.