in a column on the Speed Channel site, Ray Dunlap mentions: Sometime in the early part of August, the Toyota brass is expected to announce which teams will be competing for them in the 2004 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. The rumor mill has never been busier. Everything you are about to read is speculation on my [Dunlap’s] part. Call it a gut feeling. Just from the little things I have seen in the Truck Series garage, I think I can tell you which teams will soon be racing Tundras. One of the teams I expect to defect from Chevrolet to Toyota is the #16 IWX team driven by Travis Kvapil. They are a first-class operation and team manager Dave Fuge has been looking to run a two-truck effort for a few years now. Toyota plans to operate three individual two-truck-teams. After a big fat zero of a year in Winston Cup, look for Jack Sprague to join the IWX team. The first driver to secure a Toyota deal had to be Robert Huffman. His DASH Series experience should make him a fine addition to the Truck Series roster. He will make a great teammate for Dennis Setzer. Bringing a solid background to the negotiating table, Setzer is more or less a guaranteed victory for Toyota in their inaugural NASCAR season. So, that would be four of the teams, then Bill Davis racing must get the final two, right? Wrong. My gut is telling me that BDR is out in the cold on this deal. Another team that recently packed up its roots and headed toward Charlotte is Phoenix Racing owned by James Finch. His operation left its home base of Panama City, Fla., for the beaches of Spartanburg, S.C. I think Phoenix Racing will be the driver development arm of Toyotas ultimate plan. Finch has been very good at finding new talent and his good friend Chip Gannasi is not bad at it either. The list of possible drivers for this team is endless.(in part from Speed Channel), so speculation has Toyota to the #16 team and a 2nd team truck for Sprague; the #46 team and a second team truck for Hoffman; and a two-truck Phoenix Racing team?(7-3-2003)
UPDATE: Three-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champion Jack Sprague will join the 2002 Championship team, Xpress Motorsports, in a second truck for the 2004 season. For Sprague, it’s a return to the series where he’s enjoyed the most success. “I’m extremely happy to be able to drive for Xpress Motorsports next season,” said Sprague. “That team is all about racing and winning, that’s what I’m all about. All I want in racing is to know that when my truck is unloaded from the hauler, we have a real chance to win. I race to win races and race for championships. I had that in the truck series at Hendrick Motorsports and I think I’ve found that combination again with IWX Racing.” Sprague, 39, won championships in 1997, 1999, and 2001. Xpress Motorsports won the championship in 2002 with driver Mike Bliss. Currently, the team is second in this year’s title hunt with Travis Kvapil — only seven points back entering Wednesday’s race at Bristol. “This team is about winning races and winning championships,” said team manager Dave Fuge. “We did both last year and we’re in the championship hunt again this year. Jack adds strength to our team. He’s the only three-time series champion and second on the all-time win list, with 23. He is a very talented driver and we’re happy to have him joining us next year. With Jack on board, we are now working to put the right combination of manufacturer and sponsorship together to achieve our goals. Our commitment is to continue winning in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for years to come.”(Post/IWX PR)(8-19-2003)
