Teams set for California

Teams in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will take the green flag for the final time in 2001 at 4 p.m. ET Oct. 28 at California Speedway in Fontana. The race can be seen live on ESPN2 or you can catch the radio broadcast on MRN affiliates.

Jack Sprage is looking for a three-peat at the track where he claimed the 1999 NCTS title by eight points of already 2000 champion Greg Biffle. Sprague is also hoping to not end his streak of finishing out every season in the top-five since the beginning of the truck series in 1995. The two-time champion is fifth in points, so he's on the border-line this year. Sprage is the only driver to compete in all 145 Craftsman Truck Series events since the series was launched. In those 145 races, Sprage has recorded 78 top-fives.

Sprague and Hendrick Motorsports is also set to name a new primary sponsor for the 2001 season. "I think it's going to be a great deal for everyone involved," Sprague said. Everyone is remaining tight lipped about the identity of this new sponsor with plans to let everyone in on the secret prior to the race on Saturday. Sprage did mention that he believes his new primary sponsor will take sponsorship to a new level and will benefit the NCTS. Spragues current sponsor, GMAC, will remain onboard as a major associate sponsor. Spragues teammate, Ricky Hendrick, was set to compete Saturday in Fontana but had to withdraw his entry because of a concussion he suffered in last Saturday's Busch Race.

At least one team will make its debut as a full-time truck team. Ron Hornaday plans to begin a full-time team with son Ronnie Hornaday III as driver, beginnning Saturday. The Hornaday plans to begin construction of two 10,000 square-foot shops in the next few weeks.

The choice of his son as driver may work out to be a good one. Hornaday III competed in five NCTS races in 1999 with his best finish being 16th at Nazareth. In four of those five races, the 21-year-old driver finished ahead of his two-time champion father.

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