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TRUCKS: Sprague, Braun Pace Kentucky Practice
Written by: SPEED Staff
SPEEDtv.com   
07/18/2008 - 05:49 PM
Sparta, Kentucky
 
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Colin Braun leads the 2008 Raybestos Rookie of the Year Championship point standings. (John Sommers II/Getty Images Photo) ยป More Photos

Three-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Jack Sprague led this evening’s final practice session for tomorrow night's "Built Ford Tough 225 Presented by the Greater Cincinnati Ford Dealers" with a 174.059-mph (31.024 seconds) lap in his No. 2 American Commercial Lines Chevrolet.

Sprague owns three top-five series finishes at Kentucky Speedway through six career starts, but has not broken into a series top-five at the track since his second-place finish July 10, 2004. The Kevin Harvick, Inc., driver charted an average 20th-place finish in the 2007, 2006 and 2005 Kentucky events. The 2005 NCTS Kentucky Speedway pole award winner will attempt to become the first repeat series pole winner at the track through nine events tomorrow afternoon.

Chad McCumbee was second fastest in the session in his No. 8 Malcolmson Construction Chevrolet with a 172.106-mph (31.376 seconds) lap. He owns an average 19th-place finish through two career Kentucky Speedway NCTS starts and placed 20th in the 2007 “Built Ford Tough 225 Presented by the Greater Cincinnati Ford Dealers.”

Shelby Howard was third on the practice chart with a 171.854-mph (31.422 seconds) lap in the No. 13 FarmPaint.com Chevrolet while NASCAR Sprint Cup Series leader Kyle Busch was fourth fastest in the session with a 171.320-mph (31.520 seconds) lap. Busch will attempt to become the first three-series Kentucky Speedway race winner tomorrow night. Matt Crafton, who has finished in the top-10 in four of his career NCTS Kentucky starts, was fifth quickest in the session with a 171.314-mph (31.521 seconds) in the No. 88 Menards/Ideal Door Chevrolet.

Current NCTS championship leader and 2006 Kentucky winner ended practice ninth on the speed chart after posting his best lap at 170.412 mph (31.688 seconds). Defending Kentucky NCTS title holder Mike Skinner closed out practice 13th fastest with a 169.726-mph (31.816 seconds).

Colin Braun wheeled the No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford F-150 atop the 37-truck Kentucky Speedway speed chart during today’s opening practice
for tomorrow night’s “Built Ford Tough 225 Presented by the Greater Cincinnati Ford Dealers.”

The Ovalo, Texas driver will enter tomorrow’s event holding the lead in the series rookie-of-the-year standings, turned his best practice lap at 171.532-mph (31.481 seconds). He was followed by three-time NCTS champion Jack Sprague with a 170.132-mph (31.740 seconds) lap in the No. 2 American Commercial Lines Chevrolet.; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standings leader Kyle Busch in the No. 51 Miccosukee Resorts/NOS Energy Drink Chevrolet with a 169.918-mph (31.780 seconds) lap and veteran Rick Crawford in the No. 14 Circle Bar Truck Corral/Powerstroke Diesel Ford F-150 with a 169.790-mph (31.804 seconds) lap.

Braun will start tomorrow night’s event 15th in the NCTS standings. He posted his season-best third-place finish at Kansas Speedway April 26 and tacked on three additional top-10 finishes. He earned his most recent top-10 with a sixth-place showing at Michigan International Speedway June 14, but placed 31st and 29th respectively in the races that followed on The Milwaukee Mile June 20 and at Memphis Motorsports Park June 28.

“We had our No. 6 Con-way Freight Ford set up in race trim and I was kind of surprised at our mock (qualifying) run, but we’ll take it. All the guys have been working hard back at the shop over these past few off weeks and it showed. We’ve shown we can run fast and strong at these mile-and-a-half tracks,” he said.

He said his primary race goal is to get his team back on solid series footing.

“We’ve struggled to put together some of the finishes we need, but this weekend we’re focused on finishing and collecting some points,” Braun said.

First Practice Results: KENTUCKY


Final Practice Results: KENTUCKY
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