IMSA Continential Tire SportsCar Challenge ST co-points leader Jeff Mosing is done for 2017. Murillo Racing recently announced that a routine medical checkup for Mosing uncovered a compression fracture of the L2 veterbrae. The likely cause of the injury was a crash in an aborted IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge race at Watkins Glen back in July. Mosing is in the yellow and burgundy No. 01 in the clip.
At the time, Mosing was transported to a local hospital for observation, then was released that evening. He thought that he was going to have to sit out the Continental Tire 120 at the Glen, but that didn’t come to pass. Prior to the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge event event the next day, Mosing took some time to talk to Frontstretch about his condition.
“I’m sore, but nothing’s broke,” Mosing said. “I’ve got a clean bill of health as far as the doctor’s concerned at the hospital.”
In addition to the doctor that examined him, IMSA had to approve him to get back in the car. That was done the morning of the Continental Tire 120 at the Glen.
The soreness Mosing noted to Frontstretch has only continued over the past two months. Despite that, the diagnosis he received was crushing.
“Upon hearing the news from my doctor, I was devastated,” Mosing stated. “This certainly cannot be happening to me again. Another back injury will prevent me from winning another championship in the IMSA Continental SportsCar Challenge. I reflected on it for a couple of days and decided the best thing to do is to focus on the positives.
“Our Murillo Racing team has gotten better at everything they do year after year, and that’s the true reason that I have even had chances at winning a championship,” Mosing continued. “My co-driver, Eric Foss, has a lot to do with it too, as through the years driving with him and having him for a coach has taken years off my learning curve. Yeah, I won’t go down in the record books, again, if the team stays in the lead, but in my heart I battle hard like a champion, and my passion for doing the best that I personally can will continue to shine through my performance on track.”
This will be the second time that Mosing has missed time due to back issues. Back in 2014, he was forced to miss the round at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca due to back issues. At the time, Murillo Racing put Justin Piscitell in the No. 56 BMW 328i. The team finished 20th in class.
What’s next for Murillo Racing? They’re naturally going to have to find a sub for the last two races of the year to partner up with Foss and protect Foss’ 22-point lead in the Street Tuner standings. Who would be that driver be? Piscitell, who has driven Murillo Racing’s No. 65 Porsche Cayman this season, is an option. Another is IMSA Prototype Challenge racer Kenton Koch.
Mosing told Frontstretch in July that Murillo Racing had made plans to put Koch in the No. 56 Porsche Cayman had Mosing not been approved to race at Watkins Glen. Mosing views Koch as an upgrade for the team over himself.
Murillo Racing will make an official announcement about Mosing’s replacement in the coming days.
About the author
Phil Allaway has three primary roles at Frontstretch. He's the manager of the site's FREE e-mail newsletter that publishes Monday-Friday and occasionally on weekends. He keeps TV broadcasters honest with weekly editions of Couch Potato Tuesday and serves as the site's Sports Car racing editor.
Outside of Frontstretch, Phil is the press officer for Lebanon Valley Speedway in West Lebanon, N.Y. He covers all the action on the high-banked dirt track from regular DIRTcar Modified racing to occasional visits from touring series such as the Super DIRTcar Series.
A daily email update (Monday through Friday) providing racing news, commentary, features, and information from Frontstretch.com
We hate spam. Your email address will not be sold or shared with anyone else.