PETERSEN MEDIA
Returning to action with the USAC/CRA Series over the weekend, Yorba Linda, CA driver, Matt Mitchell continued to time in well, after struggling at the beginning of the season, and recorded two top-five finishes.
Kicking his weekend off at the Ocean Speedway in Watsonville, CA, Mitchell timed his Matt Mitchell Racing machine in fifth fastest, with 29 cars checked in the pit area.
Heat race action saw Mitchell lose a transfer spot late in the race, as he slipped back to the fifth spot, while trying to make a pass for third, putting him in the ‘B’ Main, in which he won, and transferred into the feature event.
Lining up seventh in the A, Mitchell got off to a slow start, as he rode just inside the top-ten during the early goings.
As laps clicked off, and the race wound down, Mitchell seemed to come to life as he began charging his way forward.
Getting past Cory Kruseman, and Ryan Bernal, Mitchell found himself in the fourth spot, as he began pressuring his good friends, Nic Faas and Bud Kaeding.
Running out of laps, Mitchell would end the night with a fourth place finish.
“Watsonville was a ton of fun,” he said. “We timed in well, and really got going towards the end of the feature, but we just ran out of laps.”
Saturday night the scene was the Santa Maria Speedway in Nipomo, CA, and with 18 cars on hand, Mitchell again timed in well, as he was fifth fastest for the second night in a row.
A sixth place finish in his heat, put him in the fourth row for the feature event. Starting on the outside, Mitchell was able to an early run up to the fifth spot, where he would stay, and ultimately finish.
“Overall it was a pretty good weekend for our team,” Mitchell said. “We timed in very well, which has been our Achilles heel all year, and raced well in both features. I am pretty happy with our results.”
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-18, Wins-2, Top 5’s-5, Top 10’s-10
ON TAP: Mitchell will return to action at the Perris Auto Speedway on the July 4th holiday!