Jursik Claims 1st Main Event Victory At Sandusky
By Lynda Yates
Its been almost 10 years since Sandusky Speedway saw the Late Models at the track and the fans were excited! The Main Event Late Models brought to you by Carter Lumber lined the track for driver introductions. Don Mahaffey, Jr. and Brett Jursik led the 21 cars around for the drop of the green for their 100 laps of action. Jursik led the first lap with Mahaffey in second followed by Charlie Schultz, Andy Carroll and Gary Whipkey. Tim Ice passed Whipkey for fifth in turn two of lap six.
The caution was out on lap nine for Don Harvey slowing on the front stretch and taking his ride pitside. Jursik led on the restart with Ice passing Carroll on lap 12 for fourth at the line. Carroll was freight trained on the backstretch losing ground and allowing Whipkey to take over fifth. The yellow was thrown again on lap 16 as Carroll stopped on the track coming out of turn three. Carroll went into the pits with his night of racing over.
Jursik led on the restart with Mahaffey, Rich Rohrer, Ice and Whipkey the top five. Ice took over third on lap 31 on the backstretch as Jursik had a quarter track lead over the rest. Ice wasted no time as he moved into second the next lap. Jursik opened up a half track lead when the caution came out as Doug Sommers smoked coming out of turn three of lap 38. The field was bunched back up with another caution on lap 41 for Mike Scheffer stopping going into turn one.
At the half way point it was Jursik, Ice, Mahaffey, Rohrer and Jimmy Carter. Jursik pulled away with Ice next in line with the next three battling on the restart. The yellow was thrown on lap 53 for Johnny Jenkins and Charlie Schultz coming together going into turn four. Both drivers were charged and sent to tail on the restart. Jursik still led with the next caution out on lap 63 for fourth place Rohrer stopping in turn two. He was pushed into the pits with the race back to green.
Jursik was in the top spot with Ice, Mahaffey, Carter and Whipkey on lap 64. They remained unchanged as the next caution came out on lap 82 for Burgess White stopping on the front stretch and his machine smoking. He went pitside with his night done. Eighteen laps remained as the green flag was waved once again. Before another lap could be scored in the books, Dino Long and John Crumrine spun coming out of turn four.
The race went red just to allow for cleanup as the cars took a ride in the rain and mud leftover from early morning and afternoon showers. The top five remained unchanged allowing Jursik to lead all 100 laps and take home his first feature win on his first outing with the Main Event Late Model Series.
The Main Event Racing Series will next be in action at Shady Bowl Speedway in Degraff, Ohio for a 75 lap event on Saturday, August 9. For more information, check out the website at maineventracingseries.com.
Main Event Racing Series
Top Qualifier Harold Fair, Jr. 16.577
Lap Leader Brett Jursik 1-100
Carter Lumber 100 Brett Jursik, Tim Ice, Don Mahaffey, Jr., Jimmy Carter, Gary Whipkey, Rick Sibila, Charlie Schultz, Dino Long, John Crumrine, John Stroble, Joel McKnight, Johnny Jenkins, Burgess White, Rich Rohrer, John Flynn, Michael Scheffer, Harold Fair, Jr., Doug Sommers, Tom Stankiewicz, Don Harvey, Jr., Andy Carroll