Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Odds favor Jack Sprague in LVMS truck race

Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2001 | 9:44 a.m.

Brian Hilderbrand covers motor sports for the Las Vegas Sun. Reach him at bh@lasvegassun.com or 259-4089.

Jack Sprague isn't a betting man, but he has to like his odds of winning the 2001 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship.

Although Sprague holds a mere 64-point lead over Joe Ruttman with three races remaining, the final three tracks on the circuit certainly have been kind to the two-time Truck Series champion -- especially the 1.5-mile oval at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

In four races at LVMS, Sprague has two wins (1996 and 1998), two runner-up finishes (1997 and 1999) and two poles (1997 and 1998) going into Sunday's Orleans 350.

"The amount of success I've had at Vegas is really pretty incredible," Sprague said. "I can honestly say I don't consider myself to be lucky by any means but when running here, the monkey has always seemed to stay off my back. Maybe that's another reason I'm looking forward to Sunday's race."

Aside from his success in Las Vegas, Sprague said the track itself suits his driving style.

"Vegas is a smooth, fast track -- the ingredients that mix up to be my kind of racing," Sprague said. "I was surprised we didn't run here last year, but we're back now and it should be a good race."

Following Sunday's race, the Truck Series concludes its season with races at Phoenix International Raceway and California Speedway -- two tracks that Sprague has mastered as well as LVMS. In 18 starts at Las Vegas, Phoenix and Fontana, Sprague has amassed seven wins and 14 top-five finishes.

Sprague, who has four wins this season, will need to have all the luck and history on his side as the closest points battle in Truck Series history winds down. Only 191 points separate the top six drivers in the standings and the top eight still have a mathematical chance to win the championship.

Ruttman, who has two wins this season, stands 64 points behind Sprague and Scott Riggs, a five-time winner in 2001, is 88 points off the lead. Rookie Travis Kvapil, who won Saturday's race at Texas Motor Speedway, is 11 points behind Sprague and Ted Musgrave, with five wins, is 158 points off the pace.

Rookie Ricky Hendrick, Dennis Setzer and Terry Cook also remain in the hunt for the championship.

Qualifying for the Orleans 350 will be held Saturday at 4 p.m. The race will start at 3 p.m. Sunday and will be televised live on ESPN2.

Gaughan, who has three top-10 finishes in five truck races this season, will drive the No. 62 Orleans Racing NAPA Auto Parts Dodge. Busch, making his sixth start in a truck, will drive the No. 99 Roush Racing Eldon Office Products Ford.

Gaughan also will be driving in Saturday night's 24 Hour Fitness 150 NASCAR Winston West race at LVMS. Gaughan holds a 25-point lead over Mark Reed in the Winston West points standings as he attempts to repeat as series champion.

Scheduled to attend are NCTS drivers Jack Sprague, Ted Musgrave, Scott Riggs, Ricky Hendrick, Jon Wood, Kyle Busch and Joe Ruttman. Winston West drivers Brendan Gaughan, Shawna Robinson and Hershel McGriff also will be on hand to sign autographs.