Sprague wins truck opener at Daytona

Autoracing Betting Lines

02/17/2007 - Daytona Beach, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jack Sprague captured the first Craftsman Truck Series event of 2007. The No.60 Toyota crossed the finish line just a few feet ahead of Johnny Benson.

The victory was Sprague's first of the season and 28th of his truck career. He is now just one win behind Ron Hornaday Jr. for the series all-time record.

Three-time Craftsman Truck Series champion Sprague brought the 36 trucks to the green flag to open the 2007 racing season. And they got one lap completed before the first caution flag when Mike Wallace was sent spinning.

After eight laps, Todd Bodine went to the lead. The defending series champion lasted just one lap before yielding to Mike Skinner. Following a caution flag, Travis Kvapil made his way to the lead in the No.6 Roush Racing Ford machine that won last year's race at Daytona with Mark Martin behind the wheel.

A five-truck accident on lap 23 took out Ken Schrader, Tyler Walker, Kraig Kinser, Joey Clanton and Jason White. It appeared to start when Clanton was heading down pit lane and Jason White didn't see it and hit his rear bumper starting a chain reaction melee.

On varying pit strategies, Benson and Bodine worked their way to the top-two spots. But no one could hold the lead for long and Kvapil retook the lead (with help from Aaron Fike) on lap 35.

Finally the drivers got down to racing and not crashing and as the field neared the mid-point of the race there were still 26 trucks in the lead pack trading positions on each lap.

A well-timed caution flag while Benson was coming off pit road helped the 2006 series runner-up gain the lead on lap 52.

They got to lap 60 before the next incident. Terry Cook had come from the back of the field to 10th when he got clipped and slammed the outside wall bursting into flames. Cook got out unharmed, but his night was obviously over.

After everyone had pitted, Sprague held the lead, while Kvapil, who probably had the strongest truck all night, would restart in 11th place. Within five laps of the restart, Kvapil had worked his way to fifth place, not far behind new leader Erik Darnell. Two laps later Kvapil was once again the leader.

Bodine and Sprague were close behind Kvapil when a caution flag on lap 80 slowed the field once again. Most of the leaders came in for new tires and to top off fuel, but Bodine stayed out primarily because he didn't have any new tires left.

Bodine took the green flag with 15 laps to go with Sprague behind him in second place and Kvapil in fourth. Sprague got around Bodine but both Toyotas were challenged on the outside by Kvapil and fellow Roush Ford driver Carl Edwards.

Then Chase Miller spun on lap 87 and slammed the outside wall slowing the great battle that was taking place out front. Dennis Setzer, Brendan Gaughan and Cale Gale were also involved in the incident.

The race restarted with just six laps to go. Kvapil, Sprague and Bodine stayed 1-2-3 as they saw the white flag. On the final lap Sprague went to the outside Johnny Benson to the bottom of the track and it was a photo finish with Sprague edging Benson by one foot and Kvapil by about four feet.

Skinner and Bodine completed the top-five.