Sprague sets qualifying mark, grabs pole

MADISON, Ill. (AP) -- Jack Sprague broke the Gateway International Raceway qualifying record Friday and took the pole position for today's NASCAR truck series race.
Sprague's Chevrolets lapped the 11/4-mile track at 133.227 mph in qualifying for the Ram Tough 200. The old mark of 133.093 mph was set by Stacy Compton in 1999.
Sprague has won 23 career poles, five more than any other driver in the Craftsman series.
"I thought we might have had a chance for the pole before we got here because this team has tremendous efforts at Gateway," Sprague said. "We will just see how it all unfolds."
One win this year
The three-time series champion has just one victory this year, in the UAW/GM Ohio 250 at Mansfield.
Bobby Hamilton, who moved to second in the series standings race with last week's victory at Kentucky Speedway, qualified second in a Dodge at 132.544.
Rick Crawford qualified third in a Ford, the seventh straight time he'll start in the top 10 at Gateway.
Steve Park, Travis Kvapil, Chad Chaffin, Shane Hmiel, Bill Lester, Carl Edwards and Andy Houston filled out the top 10 spots in a field of 34.
Points leader Dennis Setzer qualified 11th. He leads Hamilton by six points through 11 races.