PETERSEN MEDIA
Returning to his normal non-wing racing, Matt Mitchell was in action at the Perris Auto Speedway on Saturday night for the USAC/CRA event, but a spinning driver collected him in the feature event.
The night got off to a sub par start for the Yorba Linda, CA driver, as he timed his A.R.T. Enterprises/MPD Racing/Parker Performance Engines in with the 20th fastest lap of the night, putting him behind the eight-ball off the bat.
“We struggled in time trials, and that will always come back to ruin your night,” he said. “We have got to find some speed in the future, so we can set our night’s up better.”
Heat race action saw Mitchell score a second place finish aboard his Caliagua/Bell Helmets/Hedman Hedders entry, which ultimately put him in the 17th starting spot in the feature event.
“We had a great car in our heat, but unfortunately our time trial time put us in the back for the feature.”
Starting in the ninth row, Mitchell was on kill mode from the drop of the green flag, as his car seemed to be good anywhere he put it.
At the halfway point, Mitchell had put himself inside the top-ten, as he took over the ninth spot, but looked for more.
Unfortunately for him, Markus Niemela lost the handle in front of him, and Mitchell was collected, and his night was over.
“We were awesome in the feature, but once again we had no luck,” he said. “I think in half of our races someone has stopped in front of us, or spun down in front of us, and it’s starting to get frustrating.”
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-8, Wins-0, Top 5’s-0, Top 10’s-2
ON TAP: Matt will now head to the Cocopah Speedway in Yuma, AZ for more USAC/CRA action on April 19th.