Built Ford Tough 250 at Kentucky Speedway Preview

OVERVIEW

posted on July 14, 2008

Marc Mitchell Kentucky Speedway Fast Facts
• Marc Mitchell has two previous starts at Kentucky Speedway. Mitchell competed in two ARCA races at the mile-and-a-half oval last season. He finished in seventh-place and a recorded a DNF after his motor expired respectively.
• In 2008, Mitchell averages a 14.5 start and a 22.5 finish at track a mile-and-a-half in length.
• Mitchell’s best finish of the 2008 season came at a 1.5 mile track (Texas Motor Speedway), which he took the checkers in 12th-place.
• Since racing at Kansas Speedway, Mitchell’s finishing position has improved at each 1.5 mile track the Craftsman Truck Series has raced at in 2008. Kansas - 31, Charlotte - 24, Texas – 12
“Kentucky reminds me a lot of Kansas (Speedway). Of all the tracks I’ve been to, those two have the most in common. Both are really smooth mile-and-a-half tracks. There’s not much banking at Kentucky, like there is at Texas or Atlanta. Less banking means more driver input, so I’m glad that I’ve had a couple of races there to give me a feel for the track. This is a track I really enjoy racing at. It’s fast, it’s competitive and it’s always a bonus to race under the lights.
“We had an awesome truck at Kansas, so I’m stoked for Kentucky. We ended up getting wrecked at Kansas, but we were fast up until that point. It was a top-five in the making; it just got cut short. I’m really confident we can turn that around this weekend, though. The Ergon team knows how to get around the mile-and-a-half tracks. Last season, the 15 team got the outside pole at Kentucky and finished in the top-10 (Bill Lester, start 2, finish 8). We’ll be taking chassis number 22, which ran so well at Michigan this year. We’ve got all the elements in place – great equipment, a great team, now we need to get the monkey off our back and get the job done.
“Since 2000, all but two of the Truck Series winners have started inside the top-five. Obviously, track position plays a huge part in this race. To have a solid day at Kentucky, you’ve got to start up front. We started fifth at Kansas, so I think we’ll be pretty good this weekend.
“Kentucky is famous for its first-time winners. Guys like David Gilliland, Stephen Leicht and Joey Logano all got their first win at Kentucky. If this Ergon team runs like we’re capable of then you just might see my name on that list too.”