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| Mansfield Motorsports Speedway Next Test For Northern Series | KARNAC STAFF REPORT
KARNAC.com will be having Live Updates from Mansfield on the ProCup Message Board
 The USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series Northern Division will once again make its annual trip to the beautiful Mansfield Motorsports Speedway for the Mansfield 250 on Saturday, June 11 for a regular season race.
The track will also host a Championship Series event in October and Mark McFarland will be just one of several southern division competitors making their way to the track joining over 35 of the best drivers from the younger division in the series.
Shane Huffman, interviewed recently on KARNAC.com's "From Behind the Mic" radio show, will try to make it two in a row at Mansfield.
 Click here to hear the Interview with Windows Media Player..
Last season nearly 10 southern division drivers decided to get some valuable track time during the race to prepare for the Championship Series with Jody Lavender finishing third to lead the pack. Before winning earlier this year at Ace Speedway, Lavender’s third-place finish was one of his best ever in the Series. One driver who did collect his series-best finish at Mansfield during last season’s first race is ready to return.
Veteran Glenn Gault finished second to Benny Gordon last season and since that second-place showing endured some frustrating outings to average a 28th-place finish over his final seven races of the 2004 season. Gault has improved his average finish so far in 2005 and would like to get another strong showing at MMS.
``We had a good run there last year in the first race but couldn’t repeat that in the Championship Series,” said Gault. ``Hopefully we can get ourselves back where we were last July and turn our momentum around.’’
The Mansfield 250 will also feature Benny Gordon who has already won twice in 2005 and was able to sweep both races at the track last season. Gordon, who finished second in the final standings in both 2003 and 2004, will be the odds on favorite to make it three straight wins at the track.
If Gordon would be able to claim the win he would be the first Pro Cup driver to win more than two in a row at one track since Bobby Gill set the all-time record of four wins in a row at USA International Speedway.
Activity for the Mansfield 250 gets underway with qualifying for the Pro Cup cars at 4:30 with an autograph session scheduled at 5:45 and the green flag falls at 7 pm. A sprint car race will immediately follow the Pro Cup cars. For more information please contact Mansfield Motorsports Speedway at 800-424-0688.
Editors Note: Information for this report in large part courtesy Tim Southers, ProCup Media.
2005 USAR HOOTERS PROCUP SERIES QUICK FACTS
WHAT: Mansfield 250
USAR Hooters ProCup Series Race #12 of 30 (Northern Division Race 5 of 12)
WHERE: Mansfield Motorsports Speedway – Mansfield, OH
.500-mile, semi-banked asphalt oval
WHEN: Saturday, June 11, 2005 – 7 p.m. (EDT)
DISTANCE: 250 Laps/125 Miles
POSTED AWARDS: $126,791 (Includes $36,800 Point Fund)
STARTING FIELD: 36 car starting field. 38 cars possible. Fastest 32 cars through time trials. Two provisional positions for top-30 from 2005 Northern Division Driver Points Standings. Two provisionals for 2005 Northern Division top-30 Car Owner Points Standings. Two provisional starting positions available for a past Hooters Pro Cup Series champion or rookie of the year (only if necessary).
PROMOTER: Mansfield Motorsports Speedway, Chris Mize, General Manager, 419-525-7223
MEDIA CONTACT: Tim Southers, USAR Public Relations, 843-390-4224 or 843-340-3452 (Cell)
Paul Warner, USAR Media Relations, 843-390-4224
TELEVISION: SPEED Channel, Saturday, June 18, 2005 (10 p.m. EDT)
SPEED Channel, Friday, June 24, 2005 (12 Noon (EDT)
C-SET, Monday, June 20, 2005 (8 p.m. EDT)
Urban America Television, Sunday, June 19, 2005 (Check your local listings)
Comcast Sport Southeast, Comcast SportsNet West, Check Your Local Listings
WEEKEND SCHEDULE:
Friday, June 10, 2005:
5 – 7 pm Early Parking & Registration
Saturday, June 11, 2005:
8 a.m. USAR Officials Meeting
8:30 a.m. Late Hauler Parking
9 a.m. Pit Gates Open
9:30 a.m. Tech Inspection Opens
10 a.m. Crew Chief Meeting
10:15 a.m. Rookie Meeting
11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Hooters Pro Cup Series Practice
2 p.m. Drivers Meeting (Engines Off)
2:15 p.m. Chapel Service (Engines Off)
2:30 p.m. Grandstand Front Gates Open
2:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. Sprint Car Practice & Qualifying
4:30 p.m. Hooters Pro Cup Series Qualifying
5:45 pm Autograph Session
6:30 pm Pre-Race Ceremonies
7 p.m. Mansfield 250 & (Sprint Car Race to Follow)
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