Haulin’: 25 Years of NASCAR Trucks
by Tom Jensen October 02, 2020
Once a West Coast phenomenon, NASCAR trucks now race coast to coast.
Jack Sprague (No. 60) took the high line on the last lap at Daytona to roar by Johnny Benson (No. 23) and Travis Kvapil. Photo courtesy of Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images for NASCAR.
Now that the NASCAR Hall of Fame is open to the public again, it’s time to enjoy the history and heritage of the sport and get an up-close-and-personal look at people and places who made the sport of NASCAR racing so popular.
In the Great Hall on the main floor of the Hall of Fame, we celebrate the rough-and-tumble NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series with a special of exhibit of eight trucks, along with a collection of artifacts and helmets from truck racers. The exhibit, titled “Haulin: 25 Years of NASCAR Trucks,” runs through the end of the year.
The trucks on display in the Great Hall range from the Ford F-150 that P.J. Jones drove to victory in the first truck series exhibition race at Mesa-Marin Speedway in Bakersfield, California, in 1994 to the 2019 F-150 that Matt Crafton claimed last year’s title in.
All eight trucks in the exhibit have historical significance, including championship winners, first-time winners and more. And all eight are real-deal race trucks that saw the heat of battle on racetracks throughout the country.
All eight trucks in the exhibit have historical significance, including championship winners, first-time winners and more.
— Tom Jensen
One of the eight featured trucks is the No. 60 Toyota Tundra that three-time series champion Jack Sprague drove to victory in the 2007 season-opening Chevrolet HD 250 at Daytona International Speedway.
And quite a victory it was.
After his big win at Daytona in 2007, Jack Sprague soaked in the moment. Photo courtesy of Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images for NASCAR.
Trailing leader Travis Kvapil as the field exited Turn 4 on the last lap, Sprague made a daring pass on the outside lane to take the checkered flag a mere 0.031 seconds ahead of Johnny Benson, with Kvapil finishing third.
Sprague’s win was big – face it, any win at Daytona is big – but this one was especially significant because it was Toyota’s first national series victory at NASCAR’s most prestigious track.
So come see Sprague’s Toyota and the other seven race trucks at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
Plan your visit to the NASCAR Hall of Fame and purchase tickets by visiting nascarhall.com/tickets.
