SPRAGUE SCORES FIRST TRUCK SERIES WIN FOR TOYOTA AT DAYTONA WITH THRILLING LAST TURN, LAST LAP PASSSprague, who started from the pole in the No. 60 Con-way Freight Tundra, began the final lap chasing race-leader Travis Kvapil. With only two-and-a-half miles to make his move, and fellow Tundra driver Johnny Benson on his rear bumper, Sprague used the help of Benson to pass Kvapil out of turn four and into the tri-oval to cross the finish line just 0.031 seconds ahead of Benson for the eighth-closest finish in series history.
"It's awesome," said Sprague. "I can't thank Johnny Benson enough -- he won this race for me. He said he would go with me and he did. I saw him jump up there to the outside and I followed him and got a good run. I just can't thank TRD enough for the great engine, Tony Furr and the guys for the great truck I had."
For Sprague, the win marks his first at Daytona in six attempts and 28th victory of his Craftsman Truck Series career. His previous best finish at Daytona was fifth, coming in this race one year ago. The Michigan native led five times for 16 laps during the 100-lap event.
Sprague captured the pole position in his Toyota Tundra - the 30th of his career but first at the famed 2.5-mile superspeedway. It also marked the first time a Tundra started from the pole at Daytona.
"I was pretty sure I would never win here," said Sprague. "This is a hard place to win at, it's very difficult and I'm not the best guy in the draft. I did all right tonight and saved it a couple times from the big wreck. This was just amazing to win Daytona."
Benson wound up second in the No. 23 Toyota Certified Used Vehicles Tundra, his best-career finish at Daytona. The 2006 series runner-up led a total of 10 laps and was a catalyst to Sprague's victory, using the bump-draft to perfection, propelling the No. 60 truck to the win.
"That was pretty wild," said Benson. "Daytona, with these trucks, is about the best racing you can get. I knew Travis was up there and I knew our only chance was to beat on Jack to get him by. Once I saw Jack get by him, I crossed the track to go for second."
No. 5 Toyota Tundra driver Mike Skinner (nine laps led) finished fourth, just ahead of defending series champion Todd Bodine in the No. 30 Lumber Liquidators Tundra. Ted Musgrave, the 2005 Truck Series champion, also scored a top-10 finish, crossing the line ninth in the No. 9 Team ASE Tundra for Germain Racing.
Tundra drivers AJ Allmendinger (15th) and Aaron Fike (16th) also scored top-20 finishes in the season opener. Other Tundra drivers in the field at Daytona were Terry Cook (27th) and Tyler Walker (31st).
The next race for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is at California Speedway on February 23.
Toyota Finishing Positions @ Daytona International Speedway
1st, JACK SPRAGUE
2nd, JOHNNY BENSON
4th, MIKE SKINNER
5th, TODD BODINE
9th, TED MUSGRAVE
15th, AJ ALLMENDINGER
16th, AARON FIKE
27th, TERRY COOK
31st, TYLER WALKER
JACK SPRAGUE CAPTURES PHOTO FINISH AT DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
On the run to the checkered flag:
"I knew this truck sucked up really well and I don't think I could have ever got by Travis, but Johnny hit me so hard that it knocked my dentures into the back of my throat. He was able to second and he really deserved it. If I didn't deserve to win then he surely did. I owe him and I appreciate it."
On ever winning at Daytona:
"I was pretty sure I would never win here. This is a hard place to win at, it's very difficult and I'm not the best draft out there. I did alright tonight and saved it a couple times from the big wreck. The motor was unbelievable, Toyota, TRD and everyone involved, this was just amazing to win Daytona."
JOHNNY BENSON, No. 23 Toyota Certified Used Vehicles Toyota Tundra, Bill Davis Racing:
On the race:
"That was pretty wild. Daytona and these trucks are about the best racing you can get. I knew Travis was up there and I knew Mike was beating the heck out of me; I'm trying to beat on Jack to get him by. And I thought, well Jack's got him, I'm going for second so I had to cut across the track and I had a pretty good run. I didn't think I could get second following Jack so I decided to cut across the track and got it. This Toyota Certified Tundra is in good shape and real proud of my team and my sponsors. That was awesome and a great finish…that was cool."
TERRY COOK, No. 59 Melling Engine Parts Toyota Tundra, HT Motorsports:
On the accident that took him out of the race:
"I'm fine. The Melling Engine Performance Parts Tundra was good. We just couldn't work the track and when we finally did we got up there and raced Jack Sprague for the lead. The outside line was working for us and we thought we were going to be alright, we had just got past halfway. Somebody got in my left rear quarter, got us turned into the wall. But when you get hit in the back that hard, the truck starts dancing back and forth and then we hit head on into the outside wall. The fire on the inside wasn't a big deal, I'm sure it looked a little more spectacular from the outside."
TYLER WALKER, No. 36 360 OTC Toyota Tundra, Bill Davis Racing:
On being involved in the lap-23 accident:
"I'm not exactly sure what happened, but I know they were all just getting wild out there. We had a really good truck and we were just trying to stay out of trouble. I hate it for this Bill Davis Racing team, Toyota and 360 OTC. It's really disappointing, we will get back out there, but we won't be competitive at all and that's a shame because this was a really good truck. I think we had something for them, I wanted a good run at Daytona, but that wont happen tonight."
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