PETERSEN MEDIA
After failing to make both World of Outlaw shows last weekend, Matt Mitchell and his MMR team elected to make the trip to the Merced Speedway to try again, and it worked to their avail, as the USAC/CRA regular transferred for the Last Chance Showdown.
Making his first trip to the tight, Merced Speedway, the Yorba Linda, CA driver improved on last week during qualifications, and timed in 22nd fastest.
Heat race action saw Mitchell line his A.R.T. Enterprises/MPD Racing/Parker Performance Engines up in the fourth row, and an opening lap spin put him back in the 10th spot.
Just looking to get as many laps as possible on this night, Mitchell stayed in the 10th spot as he felt his Caliagua/Bell Helmets/Hedman Hedders machine out, and went on to the Last Chance Showdown.
Starting fifth in the LCS, Mitchell needed to finish in the top-sixth to hit his goal of making the feature event.
Running a solid 12-laps, Mitchell would hang on to his fifth spot, and make the transfer into the 40-lap feature event.
On a very tricky, and narrow track, Mitchell would hand around the back, where he looked to keep his nose clean, and get 40 laps under his belt.
That plan went south on him however, as he got into the infield berm on the 16th lap, and got upside down, and unfortunately, ended his night.
“We came up here (Merced) to make some laps, and hopefully make the feature,” he said. “I really can’t complain, because we did that, but unfortunately we bent up some stuff. Hopefully these last two weekends help us for our race this weekend in Perris (CA).”
Matt Mitchell Racing would like to thank, A.R.T. Enterprises, MPD Racing, Parker Performance Engines, Caliagua, Bell Helmets, and Hedman Hedders for their support in 2013.
2013 BY THE NUMBERS: Races-7, Wins-0, Top 5’s-0, Top 10’s-2
ON TAP: Matt will be back in action when the USAC/CRA Series invades the Perris Auto Speedway on April 6th.