IN RACE FOR THE AGES, SPRAGUE RALLIES TO WIN.

Byline: Bill Schlotter Daily News Staff Writer

On a day that the young dudes of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series were poised to party, it was a trio of cagey geezer veterans who wound up popping corks in Victory Lane in Saturday's No Fear Challenge 200 at California Speedway.

Despite starting in 12th position behind a half dozen quick-qualifying youngsters, defending series champion Jack Sprague - a 33-year-old four-year series veteran - padded his 1998 points lead by taking his second victory of the season.

Winston Cup star Ernie Irvan, 39, was second and all-time truck victories leader Ron Hornaday Jr., 40, of Palmdale was third.

Sprague had more than the fast-running kids to contend with in earning his win.

The Michigan native was driving in pain with ribs bruised in a practice crash on Friday. And just before the 100-mile halftime break - a unique practice of truck racing - Sprague and Mike Bliss bumped together and spun into the infield, setting Sprague back to 25th place for the second-half start.

Sprague was treated to an unhappy case of deja vu as he went spinning out of control.

``I thought, `Here we go again,' '' he said. ``That wall wasn't too soft (Friday) and I knew it wasn't going to be any softer today.''

But Sprague missed the wall. And though he started the race's second half far back, he still felt he had a chance.

``I just thought, `Hey, I've got 50 laps to get it done.' ''

Get it done, he did.

By lap 70, he had worked his way up to third and had passed Hornaday, who had led most of the early laps.

On lap 72, he took the lead, had it taken back by Hornaday on lap 76 then took it again and for good on lap 79.

And nobody could catch him.

While Sprague was working his way up through the field, Irvan wasn't far behind. On the next-to-last lap, he made a move around Hornaday into second place but didn't have enough to challenge Sprague.

``Jack just had the better truck,'' Irvan said. ``This whole truck series is pretty competitive. Some people think these guys can't be competitive, that the Winston Cup guys will blow right by them.

``That's not true. A lot of these guys - Jack is one of them, and Hornaday's one - they could step right in a Winston Cup car and be competitive.''

Hornaday ran strongest in the early going and led the field at halftime.

But when a minor accident led to a yellow flag just after the half on lap 52, Hornaday used his one allotted second-half pit stop, then spent the rest of the race trying to conserve fuel.

``We pitted too soon,'' Hornaday said. ``Fuel was real close . . . and I didn't think I had that much.''

So Hornaday laid back, drafting off the leaders, trying to stay close, then couldn't get the power to challenge Sprague when he needed it.

Still, he wasn't displeased.

``I hate to see that No. 24 (Sprague) up in front of me again,'' Hornaday said. ``But it was a great finish for us. I'll take a third at California.''

The young speedsters had to settle for less than that.

Rookie pole-winner Andy Houston ran strong and finished fourth. Second-year man Randy Tolsma, who started outside Houston, was sixth. Rookie Greg Biffle was seventh.

And 22-year-old Kevin Harvick - who later won the Winston West race - finished 30th after blowing an engine shortly after working his way into the lead for one lap.

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PHOTO Jack Sprague leads Mike Bliss and Mike Skinner through turn 4 in the No Fear Challenge 200.

John Lazar/Special to the Daily News