RPW Exclusive: Jake Spraker Still Has Unfinished Business In Racing; Part III

Column By: LARUIE FALLIS / RPW – GLOVERSVILLE, NY – In my final portion of this three-part interview with Jake Spraker, we look at his more recent past, the present and the future of Jake’s racing career, along with a rapid fire Q&A.

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A new adventure would also evolve for Jake and that was track promotion. He and his good friend Mike Romano took over the helm of the Glen Ridge Motorsports Park from 2007 to 2012. As the writer of this story, I can say I claimed the first victory that Jake and Mike stood in victory lane for presenting the trophy as promoters.

I asked Jake how it was being on the other side of the fence?

“I loved it,” he said. “I would do it again if I was able to.”

Tony Stewart even found his way to the ‘lil track on the hill.’ It still stands as the biggest event ever held at Glen Ridge.

“Best part of that whole deal was that we didn’t even know Tony was coming until the last moment,” he said.

Even as Spraker was promoting, he still owned a car on track. In 2012, Stewart Friesen was behind the wheel, showing off his talents at Albany-Saratoga, and yes, they parked it in victory lane many times that season.

With a good season under their belt. Jake was thinking all new for 2013 but Stewie told his owner to stay with what they had. It was a great combination, but he didn’t and it was a rough season, ultimately leading to he and Friesen splitting. To this day, Jake claims that was his biggest mistake in racing. He now sees that he should have kept the car and motor that they had so much success with. If they had, he may have been able to keep Friesen in his cars longer.

After that, Bobby Varin stepped in to take over driving duties once again. Even though they finished second in points in 2014, it was was one off the toughest season to date. The team had trouble with motors like never before all season.

Varin had won three track titles and countless wins in his tenor with Spraker. That season had Spraker seriously contemplating selling out. Then the Crate Sportsman came along and so did a driver that was making his way up through the divisions…Rocky Warner.

Jake put Warner in one of his cars with a Crate in 2015 to see what he could do. He also put together a Modified Team for Ronnie Johnson. Fonda and Albany-Saratoga would be their tracks of choice.

Warner excelled in Jake’s equipment, winning over 50 times in two years alone. Johnson captured a Modified Championship for his owner in 2016, giving R.J. his second title at the Fonda to date.

After the 2017 season, Spraker and Johnson would part ways on good terms.

Actually, Jake can be seen supporting Ronnie at Malta quiet frequently, even making his way into the victory lane pictures.

“I did not fire him as the rumor mill had it,” Spraker said. “We’re buddies.”

When the 2018 season was approaching, Spraker didn’t have to look far for a driver. He felt it was time to move Warner up to the Modified ranks to see what he could do.

The Duo had racked up almost everything possible there was to win in the Sportsman division, including giving Spraker his first Syracuse “Moody Mile” victory at the Fairgrounds in 2015.

This past year was an up-and-down season for the team, but they did capture one victory at the end of the season at Fonda with a Small block. They are looking to come back strong in 2019 with a new Teo on order that will be powered by a Small Block Engine.

You can be sure the Sophomore driver will have his game on with a year under his belt.

“We will be starting out at both Fonda and Malta,” Spraker said. “We’ll see how the cards fall at Malta but will be at Fonda for sure the whole year.”

Now that we went through 35 years of racing, I was able to ask a few questions.

Q: Why are you still doing this?

A: “It’s a Drug! I thought about getting out after this season, But I just can’t. It’s like a challenge to do better. With Rocky more comfortable in the Small Block, we have to give it another year and see what our package will produce, but I just have to see!. I enjoy the collaboration at the track. I’ve tried everything else their is to do, but dirt racing is what I keep going back to. I could talk racing all day long.”

Q: C.D. Coville is his favorite driver but Alan Johnson is a close second. Fonda Speedway is his favorite track being he grew up their and its close too home. What do you look for in a driver?

A: “One who wins and doesn’t wreck a lot. If they aren’t winning or doing good and I’m noticing that they’re not giving 100%, they won’t be driving for me!”

Q: Where do you see the sport at?

A: “When I started in 1983, you would buy an engine for $11,000 which was a lot back then. Today, it’s $50,000 but the purses at the tracks have hardly changed. That’s my biggest beef. It’s not right!”

Q: Is there a track that you have never won at and would like to cross it off your bucket list?

A: “Yes Devils Bowl. That’s about the only track that we have not found victory lane. I would like to win there.”

Q: You have many achievements, whats your biggest?

A: “Hmm. I would have to say giving quality drivers the best rides possible to be successful. Oddly enough, only two drivers haven’t won for me. Surprisingly those two are CD Coville and Jack Johnson.

Q: Biggest loss?

A: “2005 at Syracuse with Bobby Varin, That was a race we felt we should have won and we let it get away. A bad pit stop cost us the race. Another one was the 200 lapper at Orange County when Alan Johnson started last and was running second with a few laps to go before blowing the motor and the possible chance at the win. Triple loss; motor, race and winnings.”

Q: Biggest challenge in today’s racing?

A: “Sad to say, having a reliable crew to help on the car each week.”

Q: Is there a driver out there you would have liked to drive for you?

A: “I’ve had them all…even Danny Johnson, who was also a driver that got to victory lane for me. Probably Brett Hearn, but I never had the chance.”

Q: How many more years do you see yourself doing this?

A: “Two more years unless the deal they have coming up turns into something real special.”

Racking up ten championships and countless wins, hanging with the best of the best, I’d say the living out a dream has been quite a ride for Jake Spraker, and it’s not over yet.