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
Thursday, March 27, 2008
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
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