MITCHELL WINS AGAIN AT JENNERSTOWN
JENNERSTOWN, PA (Aug. 30)........ West Virginia driver Richard Mitchell
continued his unprecedented streak of NASCAR
late-model extra-distance feature wins, by driving his Howard
Concrete Pumping Monte Carlo to a hard fought victory Saturday
evening in the Wheeler Bros. 200 at Jennerstown
Speedway.
The triumph marked the fourth checkered flag of the season at the Laurel
Highlands oval for the two-time NASCAR Northeast
regional champion. Mitchell has also captured four extra-distance
contests at the Motordrome Speedway.
"Winning all eight big races at both tracks is an incredible feat, Mitchell
said. "I'm sure it's a record that everyone will
be shooting at in years to come. This season has been a lot of fun."
Mitchell's Jennerstown 200 win was perhaps his most difficult of the year,
as he was forced to overhaul early leaders Barry
Awtey and Bobby Henry in the second half of the contest after
struggling with an ill-handling race car early.
"We missed the tire stagger at the beginning of the race, which made the car
loose everywhere on the race track," commented
Mitchell. "That was probably the loosest race car
I have ever driven. I got sideways coming off turn two on one lap and almost
hit the outside wall.
"All we could do was ride it out and keep the leaders in sight. The car was
pretty hateful."
Mitchell was riding in the fourth position when the race was halted on
lap101 for a competition yellow flag. After some
quick pit work to correct the handling ills, Mitchell started his march to
the front.
The West Virginia University mechanical engineering graduate quickly moved
to third by the 107th circuit, then maneuvered
under Awtey for the runner-up position on lap 126.
Mitchell then set his sights on race leader Henry, and eventually passed the
Connellsville veteran going into the first turn on the 141st go round.
"The car was much better in the second half, "added Mitchell. "It was a
little snug at first, and it got loose at
the end, but everyone was pretty much in the same boat by then. Bobby
(Henry) was able to stay with me, but he was
having trouble running on the outside. We were all pretty good
on the bottom."
For more information on Richard Mitchell and Mitchell Racing please go to:
mitchellracing.com.
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