PETERSEN MEDIA
Fresh off of his first top-five with the USAC/CRA Series a week ago, Matt Mitchell scored his first series win of the season, as he held off Damion Gardner in exciting fashion to score a very popular win Saturday night at the Perris Auto Speedway.
With 23 cars on hand, Mitchell timed his A.R.T. Enterprises/MPD Racing/Parker Performance Engines backed entry in with the fifth fastest lap of the night during time trials, putting him in the second heat.
Heat race action saw Mitchell move into the second spot, as he chased after leader, Kenny Pickens.
On the last lap of his heat, the Yorba Linda, CA driver made a last lap pass to pick up the win, and move to the feature event.
Lining up on the front row of the 30-lap contest, a three-wide battle for the lead with Bud Kaeding and Gardner, saw Mitchell escape with the lead, as he kept his right-rear buried on the PAS cushion.
The first three quarters of the race saw Mitchell out front comfortably as Damion Gardner chased him down.
Staying committed to the high, scary, side of the speedway, Mitchell had his hands full on laps 23-25 has he got over the cushion in three and four on each lap, and allowed Garnder to close in on him, and take away his sizeable lead.
On the 27th lap, Gardner was able to move around Mitchell for the lead, but a lap 27 red, negated the pass, and set up what would be a very exciting final three laps.
Getting back in action after the red, Mitchell continued to battle with Gardner, as Gardner took the lead with the white flag waving.
Mitchell would not be denied this night, as he executed a text book slide job in turns three and four to narrowly beat Gardner back to the line, picking up his first series win of the year, and his second overall.
After a series of celebratory donuts, Mitchell was very enthusiastic in victory lane.
“That right there was racing at it’s finest,” Mitchell said. “We had a great car, and had a very good battle with Damion Gardner towards the end of the feature. He is one of the best there is, and to hold him off and win is huge.”
With the win, Mitchell has advanced to fifth in USAC/CRA championship point standings.
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-15, Wins-2, Top 5’s-3, Top 10’s-7
ON TAP: With the USAC/CRA series now having a three week break, Mitchell with look around various schedules and figure out his next race.