PETERSEN MEDIA
Yorba Linda, CA pilot, Matt Mitchell had Saturday night’s USAC/CRA event at the Perris Auto Speedway in command until a blown oil line with three laps to go, knocked him out of the feature, and ripped the lead from him, that he held for 26 laps.
“I am disappointed because we had an awesome car,” Mitchell said. “We got the lead early, and really took off, but unfortunately we had some mechanical woes bite us just shy of the finish.”
With 23 cars on hand, Mitchell timed his A.R.T./MPD Racing/Parker Performance Engines No.37 in fifth fastest, putting him in the second heat.
With good friend Nic Faas, way out in front, Mitchell settled for second in heat race action, putting him on the front row for the feature event.
Sharing the front row for the 30-lap feature with Corey Kruseman, Kruseman got the early jump and actually led the first lap, until Mitchell used a strong move to take control of the race on the second lap.
Out in front, Mitchell seemed to slowly stretch his lead out lap after lap, as he was comfortably out front.
With laps clicking off, Mitchell looked to be well on his way to his second series win of the year, but on the 28th lap, mechanical woes bit Mitchell, as he was forced to the pit area, and ended up with a 15th place finish.
“We had the car to win, but the thing about racing is anything can happen at any given time,” he said. “We will come back and try to get another one.”
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-23, Wins-2, Top 5’s-6, Top 10’s-13
ON TAP: Mitchell will be in action this weekend with the URA at the Santa Maria Speedway.