Mansfield 100

Mansfield Motor Speedway

April 30, 2005

Mansfield, OH (May 1, 2005) – On a cold damp afternoon, Joilet, Illinois native Boris Jurkovic joined a group of Illinois drivers that have made a huge impact in the CRA Super Series over the past three seasons by winning the Mansfield 100 at Mansfield Motorsports Speedway Saturday evening. Jurkovic joins fellow Illinois natives Eddie Hoffman and Steve Moenck that have scored wins with the series over the past three years. Jurkovic, like Moenck, became only the second Finishline Fabricating/Cometic Gasket Rookie Of The Year Candidate to win a series feature since the 2000 season.

Boris Jurkovic took the lead on the 14th lap of the Mansfield 100 from pole sitter Tommy St. John, who had led the first 13 laps, and held on to win his first CRA Super Series race. Jurkovic had to hold off several challenges from several different drivers during the show, mostly on restarts from the numerous cautions including a late caution that found Hoffman right on Jurkovic’s back bumper for the final green, white, checker finish.

"This was a most excellent win, we wrecked hard into the fourth turn here last year, so to come back and win is very pleasing!" stated a very happy Jurkovic. "That last caution worried me a little, I knew Eddie would race me hard, but we’ve been here before so I knew he would race me clean. Our car was great on the longer runs, but we didn’t get a lot of those today. I was just glad to hold off Eddie and get this win!"

New track record holder Chris Gabehart, after earning the Bicycle Clay Poker Chips – Menards Fast Qualifier Award out of 29 cars that were on hand for Saturday evenings event, looked to be Jurkovic’s stiffest competition after racing his way to second from his sixth place inverted starting position. Gabehart was taking his time planning on making a late charge to challenge Jurkovic for the win when his car suddenly slammed into the first turn wall on lap 75. Gabehart thought either a mechanical failure or punctured tire had caused the car to suddenly turn right into the wall, the contact totally destroyed the car. Gabehart was transported to the local hospital for observation, but was suppose to be released Saturday night.

T.J. Fisher also was transported to the local hospital after a lap 42 incident with Biff George that caused his car to hit head first into the turn two outside wall. Fisher was transported for further observation, but was also scheduled to be released Saturday night.

Loveland, Ohio’s Dave Jackson managed to survive the event and get a third place finish. Jackson’s car had slid back several positions after starting on the outside pole. Jackson fought back and stayed out of trouble to get the podium finish. Bobby Parsley came from the tail of the field after a flat tire on lap 66 to get fourth. Parsley made several great passes in racing back to get the position and retain his current series point’s lead. Parsley’s run back to the front earned him the Sweet Manufacturing Sweet Move Of The Race Award.

Veteran series contender Jeff Lane also came from the back of the field after an early spin to finish fifth. Lane gained fourteen positions from his original nineteenth place starting position to earn the Lane Automotive/ISKY Racing Cams Hardcharger Award and a Hoosier Racing Tire Performance Award.

With his win Boris Jurkovic was the Cometic Gasket Rookie Of The Race Award winner. Fellow Illinois native and Rookie contender John Nutley finished sixth to earn a Hoosier Racing Tire Performance Award. Jurkovic also earned the RaceTrailerSales.com Halfway award bonus. Rookie contender Jason Shively was the Howe Performance Award winner by gaining thirteen positions in Saturday evening’s event.

The next CRA Super Series event will be the Greystone Concrete 100 Presented By Galbreath, Inc. on Saturday and Sunday, May 14^th and 15^th at Indianapolis Raceway Park. The events on May 15th will include a 200 lap Hooters Pro Cup Northern Series event followed by the 100 lap CRA Super Series event. More information is available here.

Official Results

New Track Record

Chris Gabehart turned in a lap of 15.819 seconds to set a new track record at the Mansfield 100.  He then drew a 6 to start in the sixth starting position putting Rookie of the Year candidate Tommy St. John on the pole.

Mansfield Qualifying Results

Mansfield 100 Lineup

Mansfield Practice Times

Mansfield Qualifying Order