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Saturday, July 7
Mechanical problem plagues Sprague
Associated Press
| |  | | | Hendrick |
KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- Ricky Hendrick became the youngest
driver to win a NASCAR truck series race, leading the final 32 laps
Saturday to take the O'Reilly Auto Parts 250 at Kansas Speedway.
At 21 years, 3 months, 5 days, Hendrick is more than seven
months younger than Kurt Busch was when he won on July 1, 2000 at
The Milwaukee Mile.
The son of Rick Hendrick, whose cars have claimed four Winston
Cup championships, beat Ted Musgrave by 2.841 seconds in the
inaugural race at Kansas.
"This was big, real big," said an excited Hendrick. "This is
the first win, but we have to prove we can win more. You have to be
able to win week in and week out. I'm just trying to progress
myself as fast as possible."
Among Hendrick's many well wishers was three-time Winston Cup
champion and fellow Hendrick Motorsports driver Jeff Gordon, who
called from Daytona International Speedway, where he was preparing
for the Pepsi 400 on Saturday.
"Jeff's been a real inspiration," said Hendrick, who drove a
Chevrolet.
Hendrick's father was nearly as excited in the winner's circle.
"We've had a lot of Winston Cup and Craftsman Truck wins," he
said. "Wins are nice, but when you see your son do something, it's
special."
Musgrave, driving a Dodge with engine problems much of the
afternoon, still came within two-dozen lengths of his fifth victory
in the year's 12 races. Polesitter Dennis Setzer was third in his
Chevy, followed by rookies Jon Wood in a Ford and Billy Bigley in a
Chevy.
Wood and Bigley, among eight drivers who exchanged the lead 14
times on a 100-degree afternoon, posted career-best finishes.
Travis Kvapil, the sixth-place finisher, was the only other
competitor to complete 167 laps. Scott Riggs, Rick Crawford and Coy
Gibbs were scored with 166 laps while Nathan Haseleu was two laps
off the pace in 10th.
Riggs, who'd led the championship standings after 10 of the
season's first 11 races before falling to second place a week ago
at Milwaukee, returned to the top position. He heads previous
leader Joe Ruttman by 49 points after alternator trouble sidelined
Ruttman's Dodge.
Hendrick, who didn't lead until 79th lap, benefited from more
hard luck that befell teammate Jack Sprague. The two-time series
champion who led twice for 80 laps, owned the dominant truck until
his final pit stop on the 130th lap.
His truck suddenly slowed, belching smoke. Six laps later, he
rolled silently into the garage with a blown engine.
A final round of green flag pit stops saw the lead pass among
Musgrave, Setzer and Bigley. Hendrick gained the lead for the final
time when Bigley pitted.
Hendrick led by as much as five seconds before Musgrave began
carving away the advantage.
"He's proved he can win," Musgrave of Hendrick.
Hendrick, who led three times, started from the outside of the
front row. He averaged 125.094 mph for the 250.5-mile distance,
winning $40,855 from a purse of $486,000.
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