Hey everybody. We’re one week away from racing in St. Louis. It’s going to feel great to be back in the Ergon Tundra. For those of you who are just tuning in, David Stremme has been in the truck for the last two races. Our team made the decision to put a veteran driver in the seat to help evaluate our program. We weren’t finishing races like we needed to and we wanted to get another driver’s input, kind of like Red Bull Racing did with A.J. Almendinger earlier this year. Stremme gave us some good advice and helped me with a few things that will make our team stronger for the rest of the season. I think you’re going to see us raise the bar for the rest of the year.
In the next 10 races, we’ll be going to a few of the tracks I’ve already raced at. I’ve raced at Gateway, Talladega, Atlanta and Texas. Experience goes a long way in NASCAR. When we go to a track I’ve already competed at, I don’t have to spend our practice time trying to find the best line around the track or figuring out how the truck needs to feel. We’ll have more time to focus on fine tuning the Ergon Toyota, not making big swaps. Things are coming together and we’re going to finish this year strong.
Football season kicks off this week. I’m stoked. I’m an Auburn grad and it looks like my Tigers are going to have a good year. I’m sure that a lot of you Ergon folks are big Mississippi State and Ole Miss fans. I know the SEC rivalries run deep, so we’ll all have to make an effort to get along over the next few months. Of course, my sister went to University of Georgia and I grew up in Tallahassee, so it seems like my friends and family never agree on anything football-related.
Have a good week. If anyone wants to email me about racing, football, or anything else, my address is mmitchell@nettally.com. Talk to you soon.
Take care,
Marc
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Thunder Valley Time
Hey gang. Hope all of you are doing well. Last week at Nashville was the first week with David Stremme in the Ergon Racing truck. Make no mistake, I’m looking forward to driving again, but I learned a lot from him. I think it will only make us stronger in the long run.
I was able to stand on top of the hauler and see how his truck was handling, and then listen to Stremme describe how it felt to the crew chief. It helped a lot to hear him talk about the condition of the Ergon truck and what changes he thought would make it drive better. I’ve definitely picked up a few tips to use in the future.
We’re headed to Bristol this week. Bristol is one crazy track. It’s tough enough for two trucks to race there, much less 36 of them. Track position is so important at a half-mile track like Bristol. It won’t take long to get lapped if you’re not running at the pace of the leaders, so it’s easy for patience to wear thin. There’s not much “give and take” when the trucks are all crammed together in a tight circuit, so expect to see some fireworks on the track.
The track was resurfaced a year or so ago. It’s now got two good racing grooves to run on. It’s made it a little easier to pass someone, and you don’t see quite as much road blocking as you used to. You’ll probably see a lot more side-by-side racing than in years past – and that’s a always a good thing. I love the Bristol race and I’d be glad to pay for a ticket to the night race. There’s nothing else like it in NASCAR.
Give me a call if you’re at the track. Till next time, take care.
I was able to stand on top of the hauler and see how his truck was handling, and then listen to Stremme describe how it felt to the crew chief. It helped a lot to hear him talk about the condition of the Ergon truck and what changes he thought would make it drive better. I’ve definitely picked up a few tips to use in the future.
We’re headed to Bristol this week. Bristol is one crazy track. It’s tough enough for two trucks to race there, much less 36 of them. Track position is so important at a half-mile track like Bristol. It won’t take long to get lapped if you’re not running at the pace of the leaders, so it’s easy for patience to wear thin. There’s not much “give and take” when the trucks are all crammed together in a tight circuit, so expect to see some fireworks on the track.
The track was resurfaced a year or so ago. It’s now got two good racing grooves to run on. It’s made it a little easier to pass someone, and you don’t see quite as much road blocking as you used to. You’ll probably see a lot more side-by-side racing than in years past – and that’s a always a good thing. I love the Bristol race and I’d be glad to pay for a ticket to the night race. There’s nothing else like it in NASCAR.
Give me a call if you’re at the track. Till next time, take care.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Hey everybody. I’m not sure if you saw the news, but David Stremme is going to substitute drive the Ergon Racing Toyota at Nashville and Bristol. I won’t lie, you never want to sit on the sideline, but it’s for the best of Ergon and I’m committed to doing whatever I can to make this program a success.
The Ergon Racing team is top notch, and I really think we are one of the best in the Craftsman Truck Series. We have a ton of potential and want to be finishing better than we have been. The aim is getting top-fives and top-10s each week, but for some reason, we’ve come up a little short. No one’s quite sure why, but we know the No. 15 team and Ergon all deserve better performances than that. Me, Ergon and Billy Ballew all agree that we need to switch up a few variables and see what we can improve on.
We think that bringing Stremme in will give us an outside perspective on our program. He’s got a lot of experience and I can learn a lot from him. The idea is to have a veteran give the team some advice on what we can do better and mentor me along the way. I’m going to work closely with him over the next few weeks. I want to see how he communicates with the crew chief and how he reports on the truck’s handling. I’m going to pay close attention to his driving style and see how he tackles the tracks we’re at. Hopefully he can fill in some of the gaps that are keeping us from finishing up front.
I appreciate everyone’s support this season. Like I said, I hate not being in the seat, but I know this is what will make us stronger in the long run. And if it’s good for Ergon and Billy Ballew Motorsports, then I’m on board. Don’t worry, you haven’t seen the last of me. I’ll be back before you know it, hopefully on the way to Victory Lane.
The Ergon Racing team is top notch, and I really think we are one of the best in the Craftsman Truck Series. We have a ton of potential and want to be finishing better than we have been. The aim is getting top-fives and top-10s each week, but for some reason, we’ve come up a little short. No one’s quite sure why, but we know the No. 15 team and Ergon all deserve better performances than that. Me, Ergon and Billy Ballew all agree that we need to switch up a few variables and see what we can improve on.
We think that bringing Stremme in will give us an outside perspective on our program. He’s got a lot of experience and I can learn a lot from him. The idea is to have a veteran give the team some advice on what we can do better and mentor me along the way. I’m going to work closely with him over the next few weeks. I want to see how he communicates with the crew chief and how he reports on the truck’s handling. I’m going to pay close attention to his driving style and see how he tackles the tracks we’re at. Hopefully he can fill in some of the gaps that are keeping us from finishing up front.
I appreciate everyone’s support this season. Like I said, I hate not being in the seat, but I know this is what will make us stronger in the long run. And if it’s good for Ergon and Billy Ballew Motorsports, then I’m on board. Don’t worry, you haven’t seen the last of me. I’ll be back before you know it, hopefully on the way to Victory Lane.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Bluegrass Bound
Hey ya'll. We've had a couple of weeks off since Memphis, but we're heading to Kentucky this Saturday for the Built Ford Tough 250. It was a nice break; now it's time to go racing!
If you take a look at who's won at Kentucky, it is a mixed bag of results. In the Nationwide Series, it's been first-time winners the past few years. Kentucky Speedway has put a few Nationwide drivers on the map - young guns like Joey Logano, Stephen Leicht and David Gilliand all got their first win at Kentucky. But in the Truck Series, it's been the veterans that shined. Skinner, Hornaday, Setzer and Hamilton have all taken the checkers. I'm hoping to take a cue from the Nationwide guys and buck the Truck Series trend. And the way we've been running at the mile-and-a-half tracks, it's not out of reach. The Ergon Racing team has had some great runs on the intermediate speedways. We usually run in the top-five at 1.5 mile tracks, and that's what it takes to win races. We got our best finish of the season at Texas, so I'm excited about this weekend. This should be a great event for us.
Another thing about Kentucky, they've never had a repeat winner in the Truck Series. They've raced there since 2000, and no one has been to Victory Lane twice. That just goes to show how competitive the series is. It also means that it can be anyone's week.
I'm not sure if ya'll read about it, but NASCAR Technical Director Steve Peterson died this week. He was responsible for instituting some of NASCAR's biggest advances in safety - SAFER barriers,improved seat belts and neck restraints among others. I didn't know him very well, but I definitley appreciate all he did for our sport. His legacy will always remain in racing. He was really young, only 58 years old, so please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers this week.
Have a great week everybody and tune into SPEED this Saturday night to watch the race!
Thanks,
Marc
If you take a look at who's won at Kentucky, it is a mixed bag of results. In the Nationwide Series, it's been first-time winners the past few years. Kentucky Speedway has put a few Nationwide drivers on the map - young guns like Joey Logano, Stephen Leicht and David Gilliand all got their first win at Kentucky. But in the Truck Series, it's been the veterans that shined. Skinner, Hornaday, Setzer and Hamilton have all taken the checkers. I'm hoping to take a cue from the Nationwide guys and buck the Truck Series trend. And the way we've been running at the mile-and-a-half tracks, it's not out of reach. The Ergon Racing team has had some great runs on the intermediate speedways. We usually run in the top-five at 1.5 mile tracks, and that's what it takes to win races. We got our best finish of the season at Texas, so I'm excited about this weekend. This should be a great event for us.
Another thing about Kentucky, they've never had a repeat winner in the Truck Series. They've raced there since 2000, and no one has been to Victory Lane twice. That just goes to show how competitive the series is. It also means that it can be anyone's week.
I'm not sure if ya'll read about it, but NASCAR Technical Director Steve Peterson died this week. He was responsible for instituting some of NASCAR's biggest advances in safety - SAFER barriers,improved seat belts and neck restraints among others. I didn't know him very well, but I definitley appreciate all he did for our sport. His legacy will always remain in racing. He was really young, only 58 years old, so please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers this week.
Have a great week everybody and tune into SPEED this Saturday night to watch the race!
Thanks,
Marc
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Hey everybody. Hope you had a great Independence Day. I didn't do too much. I spent the holiday with some friends and family. I had a little free time that I used to work on my late model car. I put a new front-end on it and I can't wait to put it to the test. Hopefully it'll burn up the short tracks around Georgia.
The last truck race I was in was Memphis. It was a disappointing day. We blew a tire in the first few laps and never could get back on the lead lap. Everyone was beating and banging on each other all day and never had any problems, and we get brushed by another truck and it blows our tire. I guess those are the breaks. It was a fast truck, though. We kept pace with the leaders all race long and would have scored a top-10 had we not run into trouble.
We'll go to Kentucky in a week. That's going to be an awesome race. We're bringing chassis # 22, which was the truck that run so well at Michigan. I love the way that truck drives. It seems to be a good fit with the intermediate tracks, so we should have a good day in the Bluegrass State.
Did ya'll see the Daytona Cup race? Talk about a crazy finish. That just shows that you never know what's going to happen at the superspeedways. You better believe when we head to Talladgega later this year, it's going to be wild one, too.
I'll talk to you soon. Have a great week.
Later,
Marc
The last truck race I was in was Memphis. It was a disappointing day. We blew a tire in the first few laps and never could get back on the lead lap. Everyone was beating and banging on each other all day and never had any problems, and we get brushed by another truck and it blows our tire. I guess those are the breaks. It was a fast truck, though. We kept pace with the leaders all race long and would have scored a top-10 had we not run into trouble.
We'll go to Kentucky in a week. That's going to be an awesome race. We're bringing chassis # 22, which was the truck that run so well at Michigan. I love the way that truck drives. It seems to be a good fit with the intermediate tracks, so we should have a good day in the Bluegrass State.
Did ya'll see the Daytona Cup race? Talk about a crazy finish. That just shows that you never know what's going to happen at the superspeedways. You better believe when we head to Talladgega later this year, it's going to be wild one, too.
I'll talk to you soon. Have a great week.
Later,
Marc
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Hope We Don't Sing the Blues in Memphis
I'm stoked for this week's race. We're heading to Memphis - the birthplace of the blues, the home of the king. What's not to like?
Memphis Motorsports Park is a good old fashioned short track. There's going to be a lot of bumping and banging, and a lot of guys knocking each other out of the way, but I'm going to do my best not to get caught up in that. It's easy to lose your temper and lose your focus. That's usually when wrecks happen, so I'm not going to do anything that will risk knocking our fenders off. It's like Dick Trickle said, "If you want to finish first, first you must finish." Hopefully we won't be a part of all the craziness that ensues.
Qualifying is going to be key this weekend. Every winner of a truck race at Memphis has started in the top-10. All but one of the winners have started in the top-five. No matter how good your truck is, it's going to be tough to make up track position. I don't think that will be a problem for the Ergon team, though. Our average starting spot is getting better each week and we should be pretty good in Memphis.
This weekend could be our breakthrough race. We've been close a few times, but haven't quite sealed the deal. With a little bit of luck, this could be our time to shine.
I hope to see all of you at the track. I'll be taking advantage of the barbeque restaurants on Beale St. when I'm in town, so come join me if you're around.
Thanks for your support.
Memphis Motorsports Park is a good old fashioned short track. There's going to be a lot of bumping and banging, and a lot of guys knocking each other out of the way, but I'm going to do my best not to get caught up in that. It's easy to lose your temper and lose your focus. That's usually when wrecks happen, so I'm not going to do anything that will risk knocking our fenders off. It's like Dick Trickle said, "If you want to finish first, first you must finish." Hopefully we won't be a part of all the craziness that ensues.
Qualifying is going to be key this weekend. Every winner of a truck race at Memphis has started in the top-10. All but one of the winners have started in the top-five. No matter how good your truck is, it's going to be tough to make up track position. I don't think that will be a problem for the Ergon team, though. Our average starting spot is getting better each week and we should be pretty good in Memphis.
This weekend could be our breakthrough race. We've been close a few times, but haven't quite sealed the deal. With a little bit of luck, this could be our time to shine.
I hope to see all of you at the track. I'll be taking advantage of the barbeque restaurants on Beale St. when I'm in town, so come join me if you're around.
Thanks for your support.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Mitchell Hits Wall Running Fourth
Marc Mitchell was having his best career run and he was trying to run down the leaders. His efforts made his truck push into the wall and slight contact cut his tire. Mitchell forced the caution to come out for his accident.
He restarted in the 21st position and is now working himself back up front with onlny two laps left.
He restarted in the 21st position and is now working himself back up front with onlny two laps left.
Mitchell in Fifth
It's the closing laps and Mitchell has come from 17th to fifth. He's one of the fastest trucks trying to chase down the leaders.
He's passed teammate Kyle Busch and has now passed Colin Braun.
It's one of the most exciting times for the Ergon race team!
There are less than 20 laps left.
He's passed teammate Kyle Busch and has now passed Colin Braun.
It's one of the most exciting times for the Ergon race team!
There are less than 20 laps left.
Justin Marks spins
The caution is out again and that will end any speculation of a fuel mileage race. Justin Marks spun around and that makes the last 41 laps easier on teams.
BUT, now all teams are on pit road to make sure they can make it. An update of where Mitchell will restart will be coming soon.
BUT, now all teams are on pit road to make sure they can make it. An update of where Mitchell will restart will be coming soon.
Mitchell Running 7th
After the pit stop during the caution, Mitchell came out in the fifth spot on the restart. Trucks shuffled around, but now Mitchell is still holding seventh strong. His truck is better, but still a little 'free'.
The team is hoping to make it the rest of the race on gas, but will most likely need another caution to be sure.
The team is hoping to make it the rest of the race on gas, but will most likely need another caution to be sure.
Second Caution After Pit Stops
The caution is out for the second time this afternoon after 48 laps in the books.
Teams has just completed making green flag pit stops. Mitchell was running in the 16th spot when the caution came out.
Mitchell and the team have hit pit road under the caution for adjustments and a quick two-tire stop. That will help the team gain track position for the second-half of today's race.
Teams has just completed making green flag pit stops. Mitchell was running in the 16th spot when the caution came out.
Mitchell and the team have hit pit road under the caution for adjustments and a quick two-tire stop. That will help the team gain track position for the second-half of today's race.
Mitchell Running Loose
The Cool City Customs 200 is under way, and Mitchell's truck is very loose. He was running in the ninth position early, but has since fought the handling of the truck. He has slipt back to just outside the top 15.
There is plenty of time left in the event. The team will have to pit for fuel and will make adjustments then.
There are roughly 26 full-time teams on the track right now. Only the truck of Jack Sprague is a lap off the field of full-time teams. He cut a tire after getting into the truck of Mike Skinner early in the race.
Rookie Scott Speed is leading the event after taking it from Todd Bodine. They have been the only two leaders thus far.
There is plenty of time left in the event. The team will have to pit for fuel and will make adjustments then.
There are roughly 26 full-time teams on the track right now. Only the truck of Jack Sprague is a lap off the field of full-time teams. He cut a tire after getting into the truck of Mike Skinner early in the race.
Rookie Scott Speed is leading the event after taking it from Todd Bodine. They have been the only two leaders thus far.
9th Fastest
Mitchell has just made his lap here at the Michigan International Speedway. He posted the ninth fastest time so far with only 11 trucks left in qualifying.
Mitchell will have another great starting position for the race this afternoon.
A full qualifying report will be posted soon.
The race will be televised live on SPEED Channel this afternoon at 3:00 p.m. eastern.
Mitchell will have another great starting position for the race this afternoon.
A full qualifying report will be posted soon.
The race will be televised live on SPEED Channel this afternoon at 3:00 p.m. eastern.
Qualifying and Race Day For Mitchell and Ergon Team
It's race day for Marc Mitchell and the #15 Ergon race team. First, however, qualifying will start at 10:30 (ET) at the two-mile Michigan International Speedway.
There are 34 trucks ready for qualifying. Mitchell will qualify later in the session. He will be the 24th truck to qualify.
You can check out the home page for news and notes from yesterday's practice session.
Check back today as we'll give you updates on qualifying and have live updates during this afternoon's Cool City Customs 200. Race time is set for 3:00 p.m. eastern.
There are 34 trucks ready for qualifying. Mitchell will qualify later in the session. He will be the 24th truck to qualify.
You can check out the home page for news and notes from yesterday's practice session.
Check back today as we'll give you updates on qualifying and have live updates during this afternoon's Cool City Customs 200. Race time is set for 3:00 p.m. eastern.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Mitchell Finishes 12th
Mitchell finishes 12th. Veteran driver Dennis Setzer just picked off Mitchell on the last lap.
Mitchell had to fight a 'sticky' gas pedal on all the restarts. The truck was much better on longer runs.
Ron Hornaday just had the field covered tonight. He beat Kyle Busch for the win. Johnny Benson was third, Jack Sprague was fourth and Todd Bodine finished fifth.
Mitchell was the highest finishing rookie in the race.
A complete race report will post on the main page soon.
Mitchell had to fight a 'sticky' gas pedal on all the restarts. The truck was much better on longer runs.
Ron Hornaday just had the field covered tonight. He beat Kyle Busch for the win. Johnny Benson was third, Jack Sprague was fourth and Todd Bodine finished fifth.
Mitchell was the highest finishing rookie in the race.
A complete race report will post on the main page soon.
Mitchell Survives Three Wide Move
Mitchell was going for the 10th spot when the outside truck of Mike Skinner hit the wall. That allowed Scott Speed to make it three wide going into Turn Three.
Speed made contact with Mitchell, who saved a half-spin, but Speed went into the wall.
It's a green-white-checkered finish with Mitchell in 11th on the final restart.
Speed made contact with Mitchell, who saved a half-spin, but Speed went into the wall.
It's a green-white-checkered finish with Mitchell in 11th on the final restart.
Mitchell in 13th!
Mithcell is sitting 13th with less than 20 laps to go.
The race is under caution for the 59 and 11 trucks.
Mitchell has sliced through the field from the back. He's now in contention for his first NASCAR top 10!
The race is under caution for the 59 and 11 trucks.
Mitchell has sliced through the field from the back. He's now in contention for his first NASCAR top 10!
Crawford and Speed Together
Rick Crawford and Scott Speed got together and brought out the last caution. They got together coming down the frontstretch. Speed was sent down all the way to pit lane. Crawford cut a tire and put it into the wall in Turn 1.
Mitchell had no problem avoiding the wreck and now sits 16th.
The highest be's been is 12th. There are still 37 laps left as Mitchell looks for his first top 10 of the season.
Mitchell had no problem avoiding the wreck and now sits 16th.
The highest be's been is 12th. There are still 37 laps left as Mitchell looks for his first top 10 of the season.
Restart 22nd
Mitchell will restart 22nd on what might be the final restart of the night. There are 25 laps on the lead lap with 50 laps to go.
Mitchell will have to fight through the traffic to come back up through the field.
Mitchell will have to fight through the traffic to come back up through the field.
Braun In The Wall
Rookie Colin Braun has brought out the latest caution.
Mitchell will come down for his last pit stop. The team will tighten the truck back up and give Mitchell some fresh tires.
Mitchell worked himself back up to the 15th spot before this last caution.
Mitchell will come down for his last pit stop. The team will tighten the truck back up and give Mitchell some fresh tires.
Mitchell worked himself back up to the 15th spot before this last caution.
Mitchell Run Into Wall
On a lap 92 restart, Mitchell was run into the wall by the '99' truck.
The truck brushed the wall, but is still strong.
The team was 13th on the restart and now 21st. He's climbing back up through the field with plenty of time left in the race.
There are 65 laps left and the Ergon truck is still one of the fastest on the track.
The truck brushed the wall, but is still strong.
The team was 13th on the restart and now 21st. He's climbing back up through the field with plenty of time left in the race.
There are 65 laps left and the Ergon truck is still one of the fastest on the track.
Mitchell on The Move!
Mitchell is on the move after the last pit stop. His truck has come to life and he's up to the 13th spot.
He hasn't said a word on the radio.
The race is 80 laps old with Ron Hornday still leading the pack.
He hasn't said a word on the radio.
The race is 80 laps old with Ron Hornday still leading the pack.
Still Fighting Handling
Mitchell is sitting 23rd after just coming off pit road. Teams took adjustments after a spin by Aric Almirola.
Mitchell says the truck just isn't handling like it did in Charlotte when it was one of the fastest trucks. It's still tight.
The team is still making adjustments. Mitchell had been up to 20th.
There are still 103 laps left to make it a good night for the Ergon team.
Mitchell says the truck just isn't handling like it did in Charlotte when it was one of the fastest trucks. It's still tight.
The team is still making adjustments. Mitchell had been up to 20th.
There are still 103 laps left to make it a good night for the Ergon team.
Two Rounds of Wedge
The Ergon team took two rounds of wedge after the teams first pit stop. Mitchell was hoping that might help the truck turn better.
He's up to his highest position of the race on lap 42. He's running 20th.
There are four trucks out of the race and 28 on the lead lap.
Hornday is leading Jack Sprague by .3 seconds.
He's up to his highest position of the race on lap 42. He's running 20th.
There are four trucks out of the race and 28 on the lead lap.
Hornday is leading Jack Sprague by .3 seconds.
Tight Condition for Mitchell
We're 20 laps in and Mitchell says his truck is tight off Turn 2. He can't keep the truck on the bottom like he wants, but Mitchell is still running strong in the 23rd spot.
He's moving his truck to a different groove to see if he can advance forward. Ron Hornaday is leading the field by nearly three seconds.
He's moving his truck to a different groove to see if he can advance forward. Ron Hornaday is leading the field by nearly three seconds.
We're Green in Texas
Good evening Ergon race fans. We're 10 laps in the start of the Sam's Town 400K at the Texas Motor Speedway.
Mitchell is currently in the 23rd position and has been silent on the radio since the start of the race.
The race is young, but the 167-lap affair will practice your patience. You want to go to the front and stay there.
We'll check back in with you once Marc communicates what his truck is doing.
Mitchell is currently in the 23rd position and has been silent on the radio since the start of the race.
The race is young, but the 167-lap affair will practice your patience. You want to go to the front and stay there.
We'll check back in with you once Marc communicates what his truck is doing.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Mitchell Runs Clean Lap
Marc Mitchell has run two clean laps at the Texas Motor Speedway. His qualifying run complete, Mitchell currently sits 18th fastest of the 24 trucks that have qualified.
Check back to the home page for a complete qualifying report soon.
Check back to the home page for a complete qualifying report soon.
Mitchell 17th in Final Practice
Mitchell was 17th in final practice. His truck is getting a lot better. They have been working on the handling, but it's tough to tell if it's the truck or the high winds blowing across the speedway.
Wind gusts have been up to 40 miles per hour at the track today. It's pushing the trucks all around the speedway.
Mitchell is now preparing for tonight's qualifying session. He will be the 19th truck to take a time.
Check back for qualifying updates.
Wind gusts have been up to 40 miles per hour at the track today. It's pushing the trucks all around the speedway.
Mitchell is now preparing for tonight's qualifying session. He will be the 19th truck to take a time.
Check back for qualifying updates.
Mitchell 23rd Fastest
Marc was 23rd fastest at the end of the first practice session. Currently, Mitchell is out on the track for the team's final practice session.
Qualifying is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. local time.
Mitchell and the team are working on race setup and will most likely concentrate on some qualifying runs later in this session.
Qualifying is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. local time.
Mitchell and the team are working on race setup and will most likely concentrate on some qualifying runs later in this session.
Qualifying Day
Good afternoon Ergon race fans. Today we're at the fast 1.5-mile Texas Motor Speedway located just outside the Dallas/Ft. Worth region.
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is racing Friday night for their ninth stop on the 2008 schedule.
Mitchell is preparing for his first start at TMS this afternoon. He's currently on the track for the first of two practice sessions. Qualifying is scheduled for later this afternoon.
A total of 35 trucks are entered, but it looks like some trucks will only be running one lap before calling it a night. There are still the heavy hitters ready to do battle tomorrow night.
Check back in a little later and we'll give you the latest on practice times.
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is racing Friday night for their ninth stop on the 2008 schedule.
Mitchell is preparing for his first start at TMS this afternoon. He's currently on the track for the first of two practice sessions. Qualifying is scheduled for later this afternoon.
A total of 35 trucks are entered, but it looks like some trucks will only be running one lap before calling it a night. There are still the heavy hitters ready to do battle tomorrow night.
Check back in a little later and we'll give you the latest on practice times.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
New Frontiers
Hey everyone. We’re racing in Texas this week, and even though I’ve never driven there before, I’ve got a good feeling about it. It’s a mile-and-a-half track and the Ergon team has had some stout runs at the intermediate speedways this season. We’ve had strong trucks at Kansas and Charlotte. It looked like we were going to score top-five finishes at each venue, but we had some bad luck take us out of contention. I’m optimistic, though, we’re not going to run into any problems and we’ll get a finish we deserve.
Have ya’ll watched the last few truck races? We’ve had rookies win the last three events. That’s pretty amazing when you stop and think about who’s competing in the Truck Series. You’ve got to pass guys like Ron Hornaday, Jack Sprague, Johnny Benson and Mike Skinner if you want to take the checkered flag. Each one of them is a past champion, and the thought of a rookie beating them is really exciting.
It’s cool to think that the Ergon team has the potential to score the next upset win. Matt Crafton, Donny Lia and Scott Speed won the last three races. We’ve been running up front with those guys all season long. And if they can do it, we can too!
We’ve got a busy month ahead. After Texas, we go to Milwaukee, Michigan and Memphis. My calendar is jam packed until July, but that’s the way I like it. I’m really starting to learn the handling of a truck and getting a feeling for how they’re supposed to drive. These next few weeks help me develop some consistency and are a big help to developing as a driver. You can’t put a price on seat time. I just wish July was as busy as June.
Have ya’ll watched the last few truck races? We’ve had rookies win the last three events. That’s pretty amazing when you stop and think about who’s competing in the Truck Series. You’ve got to pass guys like Ron Hornaday, Jack Sprague, Johnny Benson and Mike Skinner if you want to take the checkered flag. Each one of them is a past champion, and the thought of a rookie beating them is really exciting.
It’s cool to think that the Ergon team has the potential to score the next upset win. Matt Crafton, Donny Lia and Scott Speed won the last three races. We’ve been running up front with those guys all season long. And if they can do it, we can too!
We’ve got a busy month ahead. After Texas, we go to Milwaukee, Michigan and Memphis. My calendar is jam packed until July, but that’s the way I like it. I’m really starting to learn the handling of a truck and getting a feeling for how they’re supposed to drive. These next few weeks help me develop some consistency and are a big help to developing as a driver. You can’t put a price on seat time. I just wish July was as busy as June.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Full Speed Ahead
Hope you had a great Memorial Day. It was nice to have a little break, but it’s full speed ahead now.
June is going to be a very busy month for this Ergon Toyota. Although Shane Sieg is driving the #15 truck in Dover this week, I will be back behind the wheel for three big races in June. I might not be behind the wheel this weekend, but I’ll still be at the track. I’ll be helping out the team with whatever they need. Whether it’s spotting or turning wrenches, I’ll do anything I can to help. Sure, I love being at the helm of the Ergon Toyota, but the bottom line is that I want to get my team into Victory Lane. So, I’ll contribute however I can.
Last weekend was a heart breaker. We were running like scalded dog at Mansfield. The Ergon truck was super fast. We qualified in the top-10, and were racing in the top-10 all day long. I think we had a real shot of scoring a top-five. Just when everything was coming together, the left-rear tire blew and forced us to make an unscheduled pit stop. We finished in 26th-place, still on the lead lap. I was really proud of my team for giving me such a good truck and for not giving up once we got the flat tire.
I know it’s starting to sound like a broken record, but we’re showing that we have what it takes to win races. Unfortunately, we’re just not getting the results. We’ve been able to hang with the leaders and pass a lot of trucks, but something always ruins our day. We just need to shake our bad luck and everything will fall into place. I really believe that we can win a race this year if we keep running as well as we have. I’d be discouraged if we weren’t competitive, but that’s not the case. We’re doing everything right and it’s showing on the track, so I’m optimistic that the future will be bright ahead.
June is going to be a very busy month for this Ergon Toyota. Although Shane Sieg is driving the #15 truck in Dover this week, I will be back behind the wheel for three big races in June. I might not be behind the wheel this weekend, but I’ll still be at the track. I’ll be helping out the team with whatever they need. Whether it’s spotting or turning wrenches, I’ll do anything I can to help. Sure, I love being at the helm of the Ergon Toyota, but the bottom line is that I want to get my team into Victory Lane. So, I’ll contribute however I can.
Last weekend was a heart breaker. We were running like scalded dog at Mansfield. The Ergon truck was super fast. We qualified in the top-10, and were racing in the top-10 all day long. I think we had a real shot of scoring a top-five. Just when everything was coming together, the left-rear tire blew and forced us to make an unscheduled pit stop. We finished in 26th-place, still on the lead lap. I was really proud of my team for giving me such a good truck and for not giving up once we got the flat tire.
I know it’s starting to sound like a broken record, but we’re showing that we have what it takes to win races. Unfortunately, we’re just not getting the results. We’ve been able to hang with the leaders and pass a lot of trucks, but something always ruins our day. We just need to shake our bad luck and everything will fall into place. I really believe that we can win a race this year if we keep running as well as we have. I’d be discouraged if we weren’t competitive, but that’s not the case. We’re doing everything right and it’s showing on the track, so I’m optimistic that the future will be bright ahead.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Ohio 250 Half Way Report
The Ergon Toyota is riding in 7th-place. Mitchell said his truck is "a little bit tight, but overall, really good." He plans on staying on the track for the rest of the race. This is one of the No. 15 team's best runs of the season so far. Stay tuned!
Ohio 250 Live Update
The Ergon Toyota Tundra is "handling great" according to Mitchell. Crew chief Doug George just called Mitchell into the pits for his only planned stop of the day. The crew changed left-side tires only on the No. 15 truck and packed it full of fuel. Marc rejoined the field in 19th-place and plans on staying out for the remainder.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Mitchell Finishes 24
Marc Mitchell and the #15 Ergon Toyota finished 24th in Friday's North Carolina Education Lottery 200.
Matt Crafton picked up his first career Craftsman Truck Series victory holding off Chad McCumbee in a green-white-checkered finish.
A complete race report will soon be posted on ergonracing.com
Matt Crafton picked up his first career Craftsman Truck Series victory holding off Chad McCumbee in a green-white-checkered finish.
A complete race report will soon be posted on ergonracing.com
10 to Go
Only 10 laps left in tonight's race and Mitchell is running in the 24th position. He's the highest truck two laps down, but one of the fastest on the track.
There will be less than 10 laps to go when the race will go back to green.
Erik Darnell is leading the race with Johnny Benson running second.
There will be less than 10 laps to go when the race will go back to green.
Erik Darnell is leading the race with Johnny Benson running second.
Vibration Leads To Lost Laps
After the teams pit stop, Mitchell felt a severe vibration coming from his truck. He quickly told the crew that he had a flat tire and came down pit road.
Mitchell lost two laps in the process and now runs 25th after 100 laps. He's now 25 one lap down.
Todd Bodine leads.
Mitchell lost two laps in the process and now runs 25th after 100 laps. He's now 25 one lap down.
Todd Bodine leads.
In Top 10
Marc Mitchell has moved in the top 10 on lap 57. He is running lap times comparable to the leaders. He has communicated to his crew that he is a little 'tight', but continues to run 10th.
The team is planning to make a green-flag pit stop in about 10 laps.
The team is planning to make a green-flag pit stop in about 10 laps.
Lap 50
Mitchell has completed over 50 laps in tonight's race. He's sitting in the 12th position and is comfortable with his truck.
He's learning to hit 'his marks' and making laps at the fast Lowe's Motor Speedway. He has asked for lap times from his crew and they have reported that he's one of the better trucks on the track.
He's learning to hit 'his marks' and making laps at the fast Lowe's Motor Speedway. He has asked for lap times from his crew and they have reported that he's one of the better trucks on the track.
First Caution
It only took four laps before tonight's first caution came out. The truck driven by Timothy Peters was involved in his second accident of the day. He wrecked his primary truck in qualifying earlier this afternoon and now wrecks his backup.
Mitchell and the Ergon crew decided to stay out on the track for this first caution. The young driver is feeling pretty good about his ride. Mitchell reported to his crew chief Doug George that his truck is just a little "free" coming off the turns.
Mitchell is currently in the 13th position after starting 15th.
Mitchell and the Ergon crew decided to stay out on the track for this first caution. The young driver is feeling pretty good about his ride. Mitchell reported to his crew chief Doug George that his truck is just a little "free" coming off the turns.
Mitchell is currently in the 13th position after starting 15th.
Race Time
After a long day, it's finally time to race here at the Lowe's Motor Speedway. Mitchell is strapping into the Ergon Toyota and preparing for over 100 laps of action.
The night is growing cooler in Concord, located just outside Charlotte. Rain showers have been in the area, but none have passed over the track. The clouds, however, have dropped the mercury to unseansonable low temperatures for the Charlotte area.
That's great for the engines on these Craftsman Trucks. We'll see great speeds tonight and a lot of action.
We'll keep you updated on what Mitchell is reporting throughout the night.
The night is growing cooler in Concord, located just outside Charlotte. Rain showers have been in the area, but none have passed over the track. The clouds, however, have dropped the mercury to unseansonable low temperatures for the Charlotte area.
That's great for the engines on these Craftsman Trucks. We'll see great speeds tonight and a lot of action.
We'll keep you updated on what Mitchell is reporting throughout the night.
Mitchell Ready to Race
Marc Mitchell and the #15 Ergon Toyota are now ready for tonight's North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at the Lowe's Motor Speedway. Mitchell will start 11th in tonight's 134 lap event.
Mitchell seemed confident after qualifying and recently said that he thinks the truck will be fast tonight as the sun sets.
Clouds have rolled through the track, but rain drops have so far kept away.
The green flag drops a little past 8:00 p.m. tonight. All the action can be seen on SPEED Channel or you can check back here for the lastest updates about Mitchell during the race weekend.
Mitchell seemed confident after qualifying and recently said that he thinks the truck will be fast tonight as the sun sets.
Clouds have rolled through the track, but rain drops have so far kept away.
The green flag drops a little past 8:00 p.m. tonight. All the action can be seen on SPEED Channel or you can check back here for the lastest updates about Mitchell during the race weekend.
Race Day in Charlotte
Good morning Ergon race fans. It's race day here at the Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina for Marc Mitchell and the #15 Ergon Toyota Tundra.
Mitchell is currently on the track, after a little delay this morning for track drying. Rain fell over the area overnight, and the track crew was out drying the track all morning.
38 trucks are entered for tonight's North Carolina Lottery 200. Truck are currently on the track for their first of two practice sessions. Mitchell and the #15 Ergon Toyota will qualify at 3:30 p.m. (ET)today.
Mitchell is currently 19th fastest this morning.
Keep checking back today for the latest updates on Marc.
Mitchell is currently on the track, after a little delay this morning for track drying. Rain fell over the area overnight, and the track crew was out drying the track all morning.
38 trucks are entered for tonight's North Carolina Lottery 200. Truck are currently on the track for their first of two practice sessions. Mitchell and the #15 Ergon Toyota will qualify at 3:30 p.m. (ET)today.
Mitchell is currently 19th fastest this morning.
Keep checking back today for the latest updates on Marc.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Backyard Racing
Hey everybody. We're going to race in Charlotte this weekend, the unofficial backyard of NASCAR racing. Most race teams are based out of Charlotte, so just about all of the crew members and drivers live near by Lowe's Motor Speedway. Of course I want to win wherever we race, but there's something special about Lowe's - all of our friends and family in the crowd, it just gives you an extra incentive to get in Victory Lane.
I'm real excited about this race. The Ergon Tundra was awesome in Kansas. Our day ended a little too early, but we were racing up front before the accident. The good news is that we've re-built the truck from last weekend and it's ready to roll. I know the 15 team has what it takes to get me back up front this weekend. Hopefully we'll have a finish that reflects all of the hard work and effort we've put into each weekend.
The day after our race, I'll be helping out at the NASCAR telethon. It's done in conjunction with NASCAR Day, which raises money for charity. Last year they raised over 1 million dollars. Hopefully we'll raise a ton of funds this year, too. It's always cool to help out a good cause.
Saturday night is the All-Star Race. That's one of the best shows in all of sports. At most all-star games, the athletes don't play at 100%. They play, but don't do anything that could get them injured. It's not that way in NASCAR. Drivers have lots of money to gain, and no championship points to lose. They go for it as soon as the green flag drops. I'd love to make a prediction, but all bets are off for the All-Star race. It's anyone's race.
Ya'll have great weekend and I'll talk to you soon.
Marc
I'm real excited about this race. The Ergon Tundra was awesome in Kansas. Our day ended a little too early, but we were racing up front before the accident. The good news is that we've re-built the truck from last weekend and it's ready to roll. I know the 15 team has what it takes to get me back up front this weekend. Hopefully we'll have a finish that reflects all of the hard work and effort we've put into each weekend.
The day after our race, I'll be helping out at the NASCAR telethon. It's done in conjunction with NASCAR Day, which raises money for charity. Last year they raised over 1 million dollars. Hopefully we'll raise a ton of funds this year, too. It's always cool to help out a good cause.
Saturday night is the All-Star Race. That's one of the best shows in all of sports. At most all-star games, the athletes don't play at 100%. They play, but don't do anything that could get them injured. It's not that way in NASCAR. Drivers have lots of money to gain, and no championship points to lose. They go for it as soon as the green flag drops. I'd love to make a prediction, but all bets are off for the All-Star race. It's anyone's race.
Ya'll have great weekend and I'll talk to you soon.
Marc
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Highs and Lows at Kansas
Hope everyone had a great weekend. Mine was filled with highs and lows, but I think we’re headed in a better direction. The Ergon Racing team and I have just returned from racing in Kansas. We had our best showing yet. Unfortunately, it all ended too soon.
That was my first race in a Toyota. Our manufacturer switch is already paying dividends. We were able to transfer information between teams and help each other out a lot now that we’re both using Toyotas. Both crew chiefs at Billy Ballew Motorsports could compare setup notes much easier than before.
We were not as fast as we wanted to be when we unloaded off the truck. I was 23rd quickest at the end of practice. The truck was tight through turns 3 & 4, so Doug and I put our heads together and made some changes to the setup. It made a huge difference. I was able to qualify in fifth-place for the race. When we took the green flag, the truck was awesome. We rode in the top-10 the whole night.
Things were looking up, then bad luck struck on lap 73. I was passing for third when the truck that was racing above me turned down across my hood. The result being the Ergon Toyota too torn up to return to the race.
It was definitely a heart breaker. I know we could have finished in the top-10 that night. But at the same time, it’s a real confidence booster to know we can race up front. It’s really cool to think we were at the head of the class competing with guys like Jack Sprague and Ron Hornaday. This Ergon team is awesome and the race at Kansas confirmed that. I can’t wait to go racing at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in my new home state of North Carolina and get a finish we deserve.
I think we really showed our potential at Kansas. We know what we can do. We’ll forget about what happened at the end, and now concentrate on moving to Lowe’s. First, however, I wanted to take time and do something that I feel is always important. I played in a charity golf tournament on Tuesday. Me and a couple of guys from Ergon teed it up for the Victory Junction Gang. We played OK, but no doubt had a lot of fun. It was for a good cause and that’s what matters. I want to thank everyone from Ergon who took part and thank all the fans who are cheering us on. We’ll be back strong in a few weeks.
Ya’ll have a great week.
Take care,
Marc
That was my first race in a Toyota. Our manufacturer switch is already paying dividends. We were able to transfer information between teams and help each other out a lot now that we’re both using Toyotas. Both crew chiefs at Billy Ballew Motorsports could compare setup notes much easier than before.
We were not as fast as we wanted to be when we unloaded off the truck. I was 23rd quickest at the end of practice. The truck was tight through turns 3 & 4, so Doug and I put our heads together and made some changes to the setup. It made a huge difference. I was able to qualify in fifth-place for the race. When we took the green flag, the truck was awesome. We rode in the top-10 the whole night.
Things were looking up, then bad luck struck on lap 73. I was passing for third when the truck that was racing above me turned down across my hood. The result being the Ergon Toyota too torn up to return to the race.
It was definitely a heart breaker. I know we could have finished in the top-10 that night. But at the same time, it’s a real confidence booster to know we can race up front. It’s really cool to think we were at the head of the class competing with guys like Jack Sprague and Ron Hornaday. This Ergon team is awesome and the race at Kansas confirmed that. I can’t wait to go racing at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in my new home state of North Carolina and get a finish we deserve.
I think we really showed our potential at Kansas. We know what we can do. We’ll forget about what happened at the end, and now concentrate on moving to Lowe’s. First, however, I wanted to take time and do something that I feel is always important. I played in a charity golf tournament on Tuesday. Me and a couple of guys from Ergon teed it up for the Victory Junction Gang. We played OK, but no doubt had a lot of fun. It was for a good cause and that’s what matters. I want to thank everyone from Ergon who took part and thank all the fans who are cheering us on. We’ll be back strong in a few weeks.
Ya’ll have a great week.
Take care,
Marc
Saturday, April 26, 2008
O'Reilly Auto Parts 250 Lap 72
Marc's day took an unfortunate turn. After a promising start, the No. 15 Ergon Toyota was involved in an accident on lap 72. The truck racing in the groove above Mitchell came down into his lane and caused him to spin into the wall. The damge was terminal.
O'Reilly Auto Parts 250 Lap 33
We just completed out first pit stop. The truk was handling great. It was a tick too tight, so Doug George called for a pit stop. The crew gave Marc 4 fresh tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment. He also added some tape to the grill to give the truck more downforce. Marc's currently in 9th place.
O'Reilly Auto Parts 250 Race Updates
Hey Race Fans!
Brookes Versaggi here. The green flag is just about to drop. I'll be giving you periodic updates on the #15 Ergon race team throughout the night. We've got our best starting position of the year (fifth place), so stay tuned! It should be a great night!
Brookes Versaggi here. The green flag is just about to drop. I'll be giving you periodic updates on the #15 Ergon race team throughout the night. We've got our best starting position of the year (fifth place), so stay tuned! It should be a great night!
Monday, April 21, 2008
Thanks Ergon
Hey everyone, I just wanted to send a quick note to say thanks to everyone I spent time with this past weekend at the Ergon company picnic. It’s amazing to see nearly 2,000 people show up. The opportunity to showcase our truck, and take time with the employees of Ergon is humbling. Me, the employees and their families were treated to food and drinks, they had trampolines for the kids to play on, and I hope everyone enjoyed taking time to look at the Ergon Toyota race truck. That truck will be the same one that will be on the track this Saturday at the Kansas Speedway. It’s a lot of fun signing autographs and taking pictures with the employees of Ergon. These people work hard and I promise I’m doing the same at the track for Ergon. I was really honored to be a part of the festivities this past weekend. It was cool to see how many people are rallying behind the race team and keeping up with how we do each week. I'm going to do my best to give them something to cheer for this weekend. I appreciate it.
We'll be racing at Kansas this Saturday and you can catch the race on SPEED Channel. Man, it's going to feel good to be behind the wheel of the Ergon truck again. This will be my first race in a Toyota. My teammate has been driving a Toyota all season long, even while I was in a Chevy. That kept us from sharing information and combining notes, so we should have a lot more to compare now.
I’ve still been keeping busy. I’m working at the shop every day, and I entered another late model race a couple weekends ago. It was a crazy race. I won the pole, but had to start in the back because I missed intros. I drove up to second-place, but had a right-rear tire go down. I ended up finishing in fourth-place. It was definitely one of the most eventful races I've ever been a part of.
But, now it’s on to Kansas and back into the swing of things. Thanks again for all your continued support.
Take care,
Marc
We'll be racing at Kansas this Saturday and you can catch the race on SPEED Channel. Man, it's going to feel good to be behind the wheel of the Ergon truck again. This will be my first race in a Toyota. My teammate has been driving a Toyota all season long, even while I was in a Chevy. That kept us from sharing information and combining notes, so we should have a lot more to compare now.
I’ve still been keeping busy. I’m working at the shop every day, and I entered another late model race a couple weekends ago. It was a crazy race. I won the pole, but had to start in the back because I missed intros. I drove up to second-place, but had a right-rear tire go down. I ended up finishing in fourth-place. It was definitely one of the most eventful races I've ever been a part of.
But, now it’s on to Kansas and back into the swing of things. Thanks again for all your continued support.
Take care,
Marc
Friday, April 11, 2008
Lots to Do Before Kansas
We’re only two weekends away from our next race. The last time I was in the truck was Atlanta, and that was over a month ago. Man, it’s going to feel good to be behind the wheel of the Ergon truck again. Time seems to be dragging, but I’ve been keeping busy.
Of course I’m always working at the race shop. We’re switching from Chevy to Toyota, so there’s a lot of body work to be done on the trucks. That’s got our whole team working around the clock.
I spent last Friday signing autographs at the Lowe’s Motor Speedway. It was the annual auto fair - me and a few of the other truck drivers were on hand to promote the event. It was a lot of fun and there were some sweet rides there. I enjoyed checking out all of the cars as much as I did meeting the fans.
I was supposed to go racing last Saturday. I was going to run my late model car down Georgia, but that race got rained out. There’s another late model race this weekend that I’m entered in, so hopefully the weather will cooperate this time.
We’ve got a big weekend coming up. Ergon is having a company picnic at their headquarters. Around 2,000 people are going to show up. It should be pretty sweet. My hauler and race truck will be there for everyone to check out. I’ll be signing autographs. We’ve got some old hoods and sheet metal off my trucks that we’re raffling off. Most importantly, they’re serving all you can eat fried fish and chicken tenders. I once ate 50 chicken mcnuggets in one sitting. I’ll see if I can’t break that record at the picnic.
It’s cool to have a sponsor that does this stuff. It’s exciting to see how much pride they take in their employees and how they reward them with fun things like the picnic. Ergon treats the race program the same way. They want their employees and customers to have something to cheer for and to rally around. I’m glad to be a part of it and I’m looking forward to meeting all of the people who make our race program possible.
Take care.
Marc
Of course I’m always working at the race shop. We’re switching from Chevy to Toyota, so there’s a lot of body work to be done on the trucks. That’s got our whole team working around the clock.
I spent last Friday signing autographs at the Lowe’s Motor Speedway. It was the annual auto fair - me and a few of the other truck drivers were on hand to promote the event. It was a lot of fun and there were some sweet rides there. I enjoyed checking out all of the cars as much as I did meeting the fans.
I was supposed to go racing last Saturday. I was going to run my late model car down Georgia, but that race got rained out. There’s another late model race this weekend that I’m entered in, so hopefully the weather will cooperate this time.
We’ve got a big weekend coming up. Ergon is having a company picnic at their headquarters. Around 2,000 people are going to show up. It should be pretty sweet. My hauler and race truck will be there for everyone to check out. I’ll be signing autographs. We’ve got some old hoods and sheet metal off my trucks that we’re raffling off. Most importantly, they’re serving all you can eat fried fish and chicken tenders. I once ate 50 chicken mcnuggets in one sitting. I’ll see if I can’t break that record at the picnic.
It’s cool to have a sponsor that does this stuff. It’s exciting to see how much pride they take in their employees and how they reward them with fun things like the picnic. Ergon treats the race program the same way. They want their employees and customers to have something to cheer for and to rally around. I’m glad to be a part of it and I’m looking forward to meeting all of the people who make our race program possible.
Take care.
Marc
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Kansas Can't Come Soon Enough
My last race was Atlanta. It seems like it was forever ago. My next race is Kansas and that's nearly a month away. Needless to say, I can't wait to get behind the wheel again.
I'm learning all I can about the trucks - how they feel in the draft, how they need to handle for qualifying, what they're supposed to drive like in traffic, etc., etc., etc. There's definitely a lot to learn and I feel like I'm getting there, but it's going to take some time. I think that's what's so frustrating about having to wait a month to go racing again - our team is making progress and I'm starting to get the hang of driving the truck, but we need consistency to pull it all together. As Tom Petty says, "the waiting is the hardest part".
I've run at Kansas Speedway once before. It was in the ARCA Series. We had a good run going, but a blown motor ruined our day. Hopefully my experience there will give me a head start going into the next race. I think I've got a feel for the track and the best way to get around it, so I should be able to give some feedback on how I need the truck to feel. I'm expecting that to give us a head start on the weekend, and hopefully prevent the typical rookie mistakes. I think this has potential to be our best race yet, if it would just hurry up and get here.
Thanks a ton to everybody keeping up with me! Your support is what makes this possible, so I really appreciate it. Hope everyone had a great Easter.
Take care,
Marc
I'm learning all I can about the trucks - how they feel in the draft, how they need to handle for qualifying, what they're supposed to drive like in traffic, etc., etc., etc. There's definitely a lot to learn and I feel like I'm getting there, but it's going to take some time. I think that's what's so frustrating about having to wait a month to go racing again - our team is making progress and I'm starting to get the hang of driving the truck, but we need consistency to pull it all together. As Tom Petty says, "the waiting is the hardest part".
I've run at Kansas Speedway once before. It was in the ARCA Series. We had a good run going, but a blown motor ruined our day. Hopefully my experience there will give me a head start going into the next race. I think I've got a feel for the track and the best way to get around it, so I should be able to give some feedback on how I need the truck to feel. I'm expecting that to give us a head start on the weekend, and hopefully prevent the typical rookie mistakes. I think this has potential to be our best race yet, if it would just hurry up and get here.
Thanks a ton to everybody keeping up with me! Your support is what makes this possible, so I really appreciate it. Hope everyone had a great Easter.
Take care,
Marc
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
So Far, So Good
We're only three races into the season, and I feel like I've already learned a ton.
The competition in the Truck Series is unlike anything I've ever been up against. There are guys that have been driving longer than I've been alive. There's definitely a long learning curve in this sport. I knew that going into this year, but it didn't ring home until I hit the track. Learning how the air affects the truck and how it handles in traffic is going to take some time. The good news is that I'm learning from the best. Following guys like Ron Hornaday, Jack Sprague, and my teammate Kyle Busch around the track is a learning experience alright. They've been a huge resource.
Don't get me wrong, I'm real proud of what this team has accomplished so far. Thirteenth-place at Daytona. A top-20 at California and a top-25 in Atlanta - pretty good stuff. We're sitting 19th in the point standings, only 40 points outside of the top-15. Not bad at all. There are a lot of teams behind us that have been around a lot longer than us. I guess sometimes it can be frustrating because I know we have huge potential on this Ergon team and I know we have it in us to win races. We're better than a top-20 team and I just want to prove that to everyone.
I really think it's just a matter of time before everything comes together and we show what we're made of. Yeah, it's going to take some time, but we're committed to it. You can bet on this, the Ergon team is going to do whatever it takes to win races.
Thanks for your support.
Later,
Marc
The competition in the Truck Series is unlike anything I've ever been up against. There are guys that have been driving longer than I've been alive. There's definitely a long learning curve in this sport. I knew that going into this year, but it didn't ring home until I hit the track. Learning how the air affects the truck and how it handles in traffic is going to take some time. The good news is that I'm learning from the best. Following guys like Ron Hornaday, Jack Sprague, and my teammate Kyle Busch around the track is a learning experience alright. They've been a huge resource.
Don't get me wrong, I'm real proud of what this team has accomplished so far. Thirteenth-place at Daytona. A top-20 at California and a top-25 in Atlanta - pretty good stuff. We're sitting 19th in the point standings, only 40 points outside of the top-15. Not bad at all. There are a lot of teams behind us that have been around a lot longer than us. I guess sometimes it can be frustrating because I know we have huge potential on this Ergon team and I know we have it in us to win races. We're better than a top-20 team and I just want to prove that to everyone.
I really think it's just a matter of time before everything comes together and we show what we're made of. Yeah, it's going to take some time, but we're committed to it. You can bet on this, the Ergon team is going to do whatever it takes to win races.
Thanks for your support.
Later,
Marc
Friday, March 7, 2008
Mitchell finishes 23rd
Marc Mitchell finished 23rd after trucks were racing three to four wide in a final dash.
Mitchell raced low and kept his nose clean to bring home another solid finish.
A full race report will be coming soon on www.ergonracing.com
Mitchell raced low and kept his nose clean to bring home another solid finish.
A full race report will be coming soon on www.ergonracing.com
Going back to green.....hopefully soon
NASCAR officials are in the midst of drying the track and are nearly done.
Drivers has been asked to restart their trucks as the fans cheer.
Mitchell will be racing nearly a half-dozen trucks for position in the closing laps. There will most likely be five laps to go when given the green.
It's all or nothing time for Mitchell and the Ergon Chevrolet.
Drivers has been asked to restart their trucks as the fans cheer.
Mitchell will be racing nearly a half-dozen trucks for position in the closing laps. There will most likely be five laps to go when given the green.
It's all or nothing time for Mitchell and the Ergon Chevrolet.
Rain will take checkered??
And it looks like rain may determine the outcome of this race. Kyle Busch, Mitchell's teammate, is leading the race.
Mitchell is riding in the 21st position.
It's still raining, just a little, with nine laps left.
Mitchell is riding in the 21st position.
It's still raining, just a little, with nine laps left.
And it's rain
Rain has brought out the caution (lap 111), right at the time Mitchell has complete confidence in his truck. He said that his truck is "night and day difference" from the beginning of the race.
Mitchell continue to tell his crew that his truck is now "fun" to drive whereas he was so loose before.
Mitchell sits in 20th position.
The team wil not pit in the closing laps as NASCAR attempts to finish this race.
Mitchell continue to tell his crew that his truck is now "fun" to drive whereas he was so loose before.
Mitchell sits in 20th position.
The team wil not pit in the closing laps as NASCAR attempts to finish this race.
Green Flag Pit Stops
Teams are in the mix or just completing green flag pits stops.
Mitchell's truck became very loose during that run, as did most trucks.
Mitchell climbed to 22nd- his highest position yet.
His stop complete, he'll go for more positions in the final 30 laps.
Mitchell's truck became very loose during that run, as did most trucks.
Mitchell climbed to 22nd- his highest position yet.
His stop complete, he'll go for more positions in the final 30 laps.
Green Flag Continues
This is the longest run of the race so far with Ron Hornaday taking command of the race.
He just put a lap on Mitchell and the #15 Ergon truck.
Mitchell has said that his truck gets loose on the long runs, but he's still running strong. He has mixed his line to the top and bottom.
He just put a lap on Mitchell and the #15 Ergon truck.
Mitchell has said that his truck gets loose on the long runs, but he's still running strong. He has mixed his line to the top and bottom.
Take the High Road
Mitchell is learning the high groove at the fast Atlanta Motor Speedway.
It seems to be working as he has moved to the 22nd position with a little over 50 laps complete.
He hasn't said a word since the last caution, but he's been working hard behind the wheel.
It seems to be working as he has moved to the 22nd position with a little over 50 laps complete.
He hasn't said a word since the last caution, but he's been working hard behind the wheel.
Another Rookie Spins
Justin Marks looped his truck and brought out the second caution of the night.
Mitchell came down and got another chassis adjustment to tighten the truck up. He was running 24th when he came down pit road.
He has commented that his truck is just a bit too loose for his liking. He can't keep the truck on the bottom, but he has been asked to try the high line to get momentum off the turns.
Hopefully this next run will give Mitchell a chance to try different lines.
Mitchell came down and got another chassis adjustment to tighten the truck up. He was running 24th when he came down pit road.
He has commented that his truck is just a bit too loose for his liking. He can't keep the truck on the bottom, but he has been asked to try the high line to get momentum off the turns.
Hopefully this next run will give Mitchell a chance to try different lines.
A Rookie Down
Colin Braun was taken for a 'loop' and that benefits Mitchell as he is competing with him for rookie of the year honors.
Mithcell is staying in line and running better when his truck is in the high groove.
Mithcell is staying in line and running better when his truck is in the high groove.
First Caution
The night's first caution has come out for Johnny Benson taking a lick into the outside wall.
Mitchell is down pit road for four tires, and a major chassis adjustment. Crew Chief Doug George has called for three rounds of a track bar adjustment to 'tighten' the truck up. Mitchell was relaying to his crew that his truck was loose- a common complaint up and down pit road.
He had moved into the 25th position before the caution.
Mitchell was also given four fresh tires and is back on the track.
Mitchell is down pit road for four tires, and a major chassis adjustment. Crew Chief Doug George has called for three rounds of a track bar adjustment to 'tighten' the truck up. Mitchell was relaying to his crew that his truck was loose- a common complaint up and down pit road.
He had moved into the 25th position before the caution.
Mitchell was also given four fresh tires and is back on the track.
Time to Race
Mitchell seemed relaxed before the race, spending time with family and friends before strapping in. The truck is set and pace laps complete.
We've got 130 laps ahead of us.
Mitchell starts 29th and has just taken the green...
We've got 130 laps ahead of us.
Mitchell starts 29th and has just taken the green...
It's Race Day
It's race day, or night for that matter, at the Atlanta Motor Speedway located in Hampton, Georgia. Marc Mitchell and the #15 Ergon Chevrolet are in final preparations for tongiht's American Commercial Lines 200.
Mitchell and the Ergon team have worked hard for their one-day event- and maybe harder than what they had planned.
The team had one practice session this morning after rain showers wiped out their first practice. Mithcell was learning about his truck when he hit a wet spot on the track. The truck did a simple spin into the wall, but just enough damage forced the team to a backup truck.
Mitchell, with no practice in the new truck, qualified 29th.
Rain showers are expected again for tonight's race, and a brief shower has aready passed. It delayed Sprint Cup qualifying which in currently still being run at 8:30 p.m. local time.
The truck race is schedule to start at 9:00 p.m. and can be seen on SPEED TV.
Stay tuned for continued updates....
Mitchell and the Ergon team have worked hard for their one-day event- and maybe harder than what they had planned.
The team had one practice session this morning after rain showers wiped out their first practice. Mithcell was learning about his truck when he hit a wet spot on the track. The truck did a simple spin into the wall, but just enough damage forced the team to a backup truck.
Mitchell, with no practice in the new truck, qualified 29th.
Rain showers are expected again for tonight's race, and a brief shower has aready passed. It delayed Sprint Cup qualifying which in currently still being run at 8:30 p.m. local time.
The truck race is schedule to start at 9:00 p.m. and can be seen on SPEED TV.
Stay tuned for continued updates....
Monday, March 3, 2008
It's Great To Be At My Home Away From Home
“When I first started racing, I started out in Georgia. Growing up in the panhandle of Florida, there weren’t many race tracks close by that I could go to. There were tracks in Pensacola and Orlando, but it was worth the trip to Georgia because the competition was much better there. I did a lot of racing at Senoia Speedway and Cordele Motor Speedway. I raced at Lanier Speedway too. So when I get the chance to race in Georgia it feels like homecoming. It’s great to be racing there again.
“I used to run Legends cars on the short track inside Atlanta. I always dreamed of one day driving on the big track. Some of the guys that I grew up racing with have made it to the big leagues, too. I raced against guys like Reed Sorenson, David Ragan and Stephen Leicht. It’s hard to believe that we’ve all made it. It’s a dream come true to return to race at Atlanta in the Truck Series."
Hopefully I'll have good news for you next time we talk.
Later,
Marc
“I used to run Legends cars on the short track inside Atlanta. I always dreamed of one day driving on the big track. Some of the guys that I grew up racing with have made it to the big leagues, too. I raced against guys like Reed Sorenson, David Ragan and Stephen Leicht. It’s hard to believe that we’ve all made it. It’s a dream come true to return to race at Atlanta in the Truck Series."
Hopefully I'll have good news for you next time we talk.
Later,
Marc
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Mitchell Finishes 20th
Marc Mitchell finishes 20th after gaining critical positions after the teams final pit stop.
Mitchell thanked his crew for a good truck and commented that he needed some more time to learn how the "air" affects the trucks.
All in all it was another good run for Marc Mitchell and the #15 Ergon Chevrolet.
A full race report will follow on www.ergonracing.com
Mitchell thanked his crew for a good truck and commented that he needed some more time to learn how the "air" affects the trucks.
All in all it was another good run for Marc Mitchell and the #15 Ergon Chevrolet.
A full race report will follow on www.ergonracing.com
Mitchell makes final pit stop
Mitchell came down pit road and took two tires on lap 82. It's the teams final pit stop of the day. Mitchell will make a last run in the final laps...
Mitchell running best laps
Mitchell is running in the 22nd position, but is running some of his best times of the day. He has found his 'line' around the track as the race approaches lap 70.
He has communicated to the team that his truck is a little "tight", but remains to run down the trucks in front of him.
He has communicated to the team that his truck is a little "tight", but remains to run down the trucks in front of him.
Debris Caution on lap 44...
Approaching the half way mark, Mithcell takes this caution as an opportunity to come down pit road and get four fresh tires and chassis adjusments to help "tighten" up the truck.
Mithcell had used the previous long run to advance to the 19th spot.
We will now see how the latest adjustments help the truck. Mitchell will restart 20th.
Mithcell had used the previous long run to advance to the 19th spot.
We will now see how the latest adjustments help the truck. Mitchell will restart 20th.
Mitchell Enters Top 20
Mitchell, running lap times just under 50 seconds, cracked into the top 20 as the race approaches lap 40.
Spotter Frank Bolter has been giving Mitchell aid as to what racing groove is working best for race leaders.
Mitchell has only said that his truck remains a little "free", but he continues his march to the front in his first race at the track.
Spotter Frank Bolter has been giving Mitchell aid as to what racing groove is working best for race leaders.
Mitchell has only said that his truck remains a little "free", but he continues his march to the front in his first race at the track.
Second Caution Comes for Debris
Lap 13 and the caution comes out for debris. Mithcell is saying his truck is a little "free" coming off the corner. Mithcell will come down pit road for a round of wedge to help tighten the truck and four fresh tires.
Michell communicated to his crew chief, Doug George, that the he only had three or four laps to really get into a groove before the caution came out.
Hopefully we'll see a longer green flag run this time around.
Michell communicated to his crew chief, Doug George, that the he only had three or four laps to really get into a groove before the caution came out.
Hopefully we'll see a longer green flag run this time around.
Caution Comes Early
Lap 5 of the 100-lap event and the caution flag flies for a spinning Justin Marks.
Marc Mitchell and the #15 Ergon Chevrolet head to pit road to top off on fuel. So many times races are won by fuel mileage at California.
Mithcell tops off on fuel and is back on the track. He'll restart in the 28th spot.
Marc Mitchell and the #15 Ergon Chevrolet head to pit road to top off on fuel. So many times races are won by fuel mileage at California.
Mithcell tops off on fuel and is back on the track. He'll restart in the 28th spot.
It's Race Day!
Good afternoon race fans! It's race day at the California Speedway, actually its the newly named Auto Club Speedway of Southern California.
We want all Ergon Racing fans to stop by here throughout the days event. Jeff Dennison and Brookes Versaggi are live at the California Speedway. We will keep you posted of the latest happenings of Marc Mitchell and the #15 Ergon Racing Chevrolet.
Rain showers cancelled qualifying yesterday and thus Mitchell lines up in the 29th starting position.
The national anthem has been sung and the trucks are on their pace laps. Green flag is moments away.....
We want all Ergon Racing fans to stop by here throughout the days event. Jeff Dennison and Brookes Versaggi are live at the California Speedway. We will keep you posted of the latest happenings of Marc Mitchell and the #15 Ergon Racing Chevrolet.
Rain showers cancelled qualifying yesterday and thus Mitchell lines up in the 29th starting position.
The national anthem has been sung and the trucks are on their pace laps. Green flag is moments away.....
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
This Isn't My Daddy's Cadillac I'm Racing
I’m slowly getting a feel for the handling of a Craftsman truck. The ARCA cars I’ve raced until now are like a Cadillac compared to the trucks. The trucks just move around a lot more. They sure aren’t like your fathers Caddy. They seem a lot more top-heavy and that makes them harder to roll through the corners. They do, however, have so much side force, you’re able to hang them out a lot more than you do an ARCA car. That’s one thing I’m going to have to get used to. Once I do, though, this Ergon team is going to be one to be reckoned with.
The Ergon team is starting to gel. Doug (George, crew chief) and myself work real well together. We’re becoming friends. Working together at the shop has helped out a lot. Once we get some chemistry established, and have a chance to go to some race tracks where we have to make some more adjustments, we’ll do nothing but get better as the season goes on. Hopefully this Ergon team will have an awesome run in the Golden State.
Thanks for all you do,
Marc
The Ergon team is starting to gel. Doug (George, crew chief) and myself work real well together. We’re becoming friends. Working together at the shop has helped out a lot. Once we get some chemistry established, and have a chance to go to some race tracks where we have to make some more adjustments, we’ll do nothing but get better as the season goes on. Hopefully this Ergon team will have an awesome run in the Golden State.
Thanks for all you do,
Marc
Friday, February 8, 2008
It Doesn't Any Get Better Than This...
Words can't describe how excited I am to start this race season. This is going to be my chance to run with some of NASCAR's best. I've been waiting for this my whole life!
In the off-season I went back and worked for my dad’s paving company. My role there is business development. I do take offs and estimates, try to generate new business to keep us busy. That’s what I did in my time off. Now I’m up here in North Carolina, helping the team get ready for Daytona. It's time to go racing, though, and I'm excited about throwing on my Ergon firesuit and getting behind the wheel again.
There's a lot I think my team can accomplish this season. My first goal is to win rookie of the year. I definitely want to do that. Going into this year, a big springboard for me is going to be running good and being consistent. I think if I can do that, I’ll raise some eye brows and hopefully get an opportunity to keep moving up the ladder. Up to this point in my career, I’ve been moving up , up and up, so hopefully that trend will continue and I’ll get another shot in ’09 to move up to either Nationwide or Cup Series.
It's a long road ahead, but November will be hear before you know it. I think we've got all the right pieces in place to make the journey a good one!
- Marc
In the off-season I went back and worked for my dad’s paving company. My role there is business development. I do take offs and estimates, try to generate new business to keep us busy. That’s what I did in my time off. Now I’m up here in North Carolina, helping the team get ready for Daytona. It's time to go racing, though, and I'm excited about throwing on my Ergon firesuit and getting behind the wheel again.
There's a lot I think my team can accomplish this season. My first goal is to win rookie of the year. I definitely want to do that. Going into this year, a big springboard for me is going to be running good and being consistent. I think if I can do that, I’ll raise some eye brows and hopefully get an opportunity to keep moving up the ladder. Up to this point in my career, I’ve been moving up , up and up, so hopefully that trend will continue and I’ll get another shot in ’09 to move up to either Nationwide or Cup Series.
It's a long road ahead, but November will be hear before you know it. I think we've got all the right pieces in place to make the journey a good one!
- Marc
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