A Good Day in Nashville

Tim had a good day, overall, Saturday during the Toyota 150 ARCA RE/MAX series race at Nashville Superspeedway. Tim moved up from a 37th starting position to finish the race 24th. The weekend got off to a rough start as his car caught fire during practice on Friday. "I had the hottest car on the track," quipped Tim when talking about his troubles on Friday. His qualifying speed Saturday morning was 33rd fastest, which meant he missed making the field on his time by one position. He took a provisional and started 37th.

Tim liked his car for the most part. The engine was one built originally by Penske Racing when Rusty Wallace was driving th #2. "The back end gave out toward the end" Tim said. Otherwise he managed to have a decent race on a hot summer day in Nashville (the pic was taken right after the race as Tim was cooling down).

- Don

36th Starting Position for Pennsylvania ARCA 200

Tim Mitchell will roll off the starting grid 36th in tomorrow's Pennsylvania ARCA 200. Tim took a provisional after having the 40th fastest qualifying time of 60.881 (147.829 mph). His qualifying time was about 2 seconds faster than his best practice time. "We have a decent car for the race," Tim said. "This car hasn't been raced in about a year and a half until we ran it at Kentucky two weeks ago."

Tim had some success at the Pocono 200 in June when he started 34th and finished the race in 21st position. Let's hope Tim can move even further toward the front in tomorrow's race!

- Don

ARCA Back in Action at Kentucky

Following a break after the race in Canada on June 29th, the ARCA RE/MAX series resumes today. The Kentucky ARCA RE/MAX 150 is scheduled for 8:00 PM tonight at Kentucky Speedway. This marks the second ARCA race at Kentucky Speedway this season. Tim Mitchell finished the May race in 26th position after starting in 36th.

Tonight's race marks the halfway point in the 2008 season. After 10 of 21 races, Tim is tied for 20th in the point standings with 1410 points. Having made 9 of 10 races (missing only Salem) has allowed the #06 car to earn points consistently. Tim is optimistic about his prospects for tonight's race. The team plans to run a new car for the race. We'll know later tonight how well it went!

- Don

Tim had a tough day during the last ARCA race, the Racing for Wildlife 200 at Michigan International Speedway. He took a provisional to start 37th and finished the race in 35th position. Here is Tim's wrap up on his day.

"The car was very loose going into the turns and tight coming out of the turns so we got behind at the very begining. We were not able to do anything until we came into the pits. Adjusted on wedge bolts and air pressure and the car was a lot better. Got hit and spun out coming out of turn four. Flat spotted all the tires so we had to come in and change them on under green so we lost laps in the pits. However, we would have only finished three or four positions higher had I not spun out because not many cars fell out of the race."

Competition Has Heated Up in ARCA

Tim's challenges to qualify toward the front of the field each race has turned into a challenge to make the field, period! According to Tim, one reason is because the competition in ARCA has gotten tougher. "As we look at our performances lately, we see improvement over how we have been running the past few years," said Tim. "The problem is that other teams our running better, too. And, there are some teams that are coming out of NASCAR shops, and that has raised the bar for all ARCA teams."

The more competitive teams have forced Wayne Peterson Motorsports to step up their efforts. Tim and the team are encouraged by their improved showing, but it will continue to be an uphill climb as the competition in ARCA is likely to continue to be strong, if not get even stronger.

- Don

Cover Story - The Phoenix Magazine

The June issue of The Phoenix magazine features a cover story on Tim Mitchell. The Phoenix is a publication dedicated to covering people and topics important to ostomy patients. As many of you know, Tim had a colonostomy in 2003 following a diagosis of colon cancer. More information about The Phoenix can be found at: http://www.uoaa.org/Phoenix.shtml

I have not seen a copy of the article yet, and Tim has not seen it, either. Needless to say, he is proud of being profiled in the magazine. He hopes his comeback story will motivate other people who are experiencing adversity.

Congratulations, Tim, on being recognized for the remarkable journey you've made the past four years.

- Don

37th Starting Position in Michigan

Tim made the field for tomorrow's Racing for Wildlife 200 at the Michigan International Speedway by taking a provisional. He will go off in 37th position. The #06 was 38th fastest in qualifying earlier today.

In the past few races, Tim has had good luck to start near the back and move up in the field. Fortunately, he has been able to avoid crashes and major mechanical problems and run until the finish.

Good luck Tim!

- Don

#06 Takes 21st at Pocono

Tim Mitchell finished 21st in the Pocono 200 race on Saturday. Another good showing for the #06 considering he began the race in 34th after taking a Provisional. "Overall, we had a good run Saturday," said Tim. "I had a problem with a low right rear tire. It never went flat, but because it was low I had to be careful with the car. We decided to wait to take care of it, hoping a caution would come out. Luckily, we got it."

Now, it is on to Brooklyn, Michigan, for the Racing for Wildlife 200 at Michigan International Speedway on Friday. Tim is hoping for better luck at Michigan this year. He made the race last year, but an oil leak prevented him from ever getting on the track. Tim is currently 21st in the season points standings after 8 of 21 races. Tim's made the field for 6 of the 8 races so far. That fact is not noteworthy for many teams, but for Tim and his underfunded team making the field is never taken for granted.

- Don

Another race, another running at finish for the #06. Tim Mitchell finished in 29th position in today's Hantz Group 200 by Federated Car Care run at Toledo Speedway(click here for race results). Tim's day began in the 32nd position as he used a provisional to take a spot on the starting grid. Today's finish should keep Tim in 21st in the season's point standings.

ARCA takes the next two weekends off. The next race is the Pocono 200 on June 7. The season is 1/3 complete. Look comments from Tim soon about today's race and how the first part of the season has gone.

- Don

Kentucky 150 Wrap Up

The Drive Smart! Buckle Up Kentucky 150 was held earlier this evening. Tim Mitchell finished in 26th position (click here for race results). While it may seem odd to be excited about a 26th place finish, one must keep Tim's performance in perspective. This time last year he struggled weekly just to make the field. When he did make races, it seems he had misfortune of some kind that took him out of races.

The weekend did not start out well as Tim turned in the 38th fastest time in practice and took a provisional to start 36th. Congrats to Tim for completing the race and continuing to rack up points. There is one more race in the current string of races on six consecutive weekends, the Hantz Group 200 by Federated Car Care, at Toledo Speedway next Sunday.

Tim Takes 24th at The Rock

The #06 turned in another solid finish today in the Carolina 500 at Rockingham Speedway with a 24th place finish (race results). The result was good considering Tim began in 39th position. Better yet, Tim finished the race (for the fourth time out of five races in '08) rather than struggling with mechanical problems like he has in past years.

Tim was pleased overall with today's outcome. "We had a pretty good day today," he said. "The car handled decent and we avoided trouble." In particular, Tim stayed out of a major wreck that left him with only minor damage after scraping the inside wall to avoid the mishap. Tim's first race at The Rock was a good one; "if we come back here to race again I will have good memories from today's race."

Now, it's on to Kentucky Speedway outside of Cincinnati next Saturday for the Drive Smart! Buckle Up Kentucky 150. "Kentucky is one of the nicest facilities where we race, but I have had mediocre runs there," according to Tim. Hopefully, his recent streak of solid performances will continue at Kentucky.

29th for the #06

The Kansas Lottery $150 Grand just ended, and Tim finished in 29th position. He started the field in 39th and ran 87 of the race's 100 laps. His finish is one place higher than his 2007 finish in this race.

Comments from Tim about the race will be posted soon.

- Don

Kansas Preview

The Kansas Lottery $150 Grand race is scheduled for Friday at 4:00 PM at Kansas Speedway. Race fans can attend the race for free, courtesy of the Kansas Lottery. Click here for promotion details. The race is part of a weekend of racing at the track that includes a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race on Saturday and an IRL race on Sunday.

I asked Tim about his experience racing at Kansas Speedway: "I enjoy racing at Kansas. We have run there 3 or 4 times and have had decent luck at the track. The most difficult part of the track is coming out of Turn 2. If you aren't careful, it can put you in a spin."

The weather at the track has gone from a hail storm Monday night- "not much fun when you're in a motor home" said Tim, to sunny weather today with a forecast in the 80s. However, rain is predicted to move in later tonight and Friday morning, which could impact qualifying again this week.

- Don

#06 Finishes 30th in Iowa

Tim bounced back from failing to make the race in Salem by finishing 30th in the Prairie Meadows 250 at the Iowa Speedway. The setup problems that plagued the #06 at Salem continued to be a problem in Iowa. Also, rain washed out almost all practice time as well as qualifying. As a result, the field was set based on 2007 points, giving Tim the 23rd position on the starting grid.

"We didn't have the setup of the car where it needed to be," said Tim. He brought the car in for work on a couple of occasions during the race. "We finally got the setup right, but by then it was too late." Tim's persistence paid off in terms of earning points that are valuable over the course of the season.

It's a relatively short week. Tim has headed on to Kansas rather than return home to prepare for the Kansas Lottery $150 Grand Friday afternoon. Hopefully, Tim's luck will take a turn for the better at Kansas.

- Don

"A Very Frustrating Day"

That's the way Tim described qualifying for the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200 yesterday. The troubles began when the car was unloaded. There were several mechanical problems with the car that had to be corrected before qualifying, leaving Tim with virtually no practice time. Then, as Tim was running his first qualifying lap the protective net came undone. Tim was startled by something hitting him on the shoulder, and it broke his concentration. He recovered a bit during the second lap, but by then his fate was sealed. Bottom line: Tim missed the race.

It's on to Iowa Speedway for the Prairie Meadows 250 on Saturday. Hopefully, all of the bad luck that could befall Tim did so in one day.

- Don

Tim's First Race Car

Here's evidence that Tim is no rookie at driving a race car. He recently gave me a print publication from the Winchester (TN) Speedway. It is labeled as Vol. 1, Number 8 and dated Saturday, July 11, 1964. On page 2 there is a section with pictures of new cars racing at the track, and Tim's #50 Ford is shown. The #50 was his first race car. Tim drove the car in the Sportsman division.

This picture leaves little doubt that racing is in Tim's blood. He is just as passionate about racing today as he was when he first began 44 years ago! Thanks for sharing this pic, Tim.

- Don

Tim's Favorite Tracks

Not much to report given that ARCA hasn't raced since February 9th at Daytona. The next race at Salem is now less than 4 weeks away. To bridge the long break between Daytona and Salem, I have gotten Tim's take on several different questions.

Among the questions I asked Tim is "what are your favorite tracks on the ARCA circuit?" Here is what he had to say:

Short tracks. "I like running short tracks because the driver makes more of a difference in the outcome of the race." At superspeedways a driver's equipment (and thus the money available to spend on equipment) is important. "Salem is one of my favorite short tracks. I'm looking forward to racing there."

Dirt tracks. "I enjoy racing on the dirt tracks at Springfield and DuQuoin. Like with other short tracks, driving skills can make a difference in the outcome of the race."

More to come. We will be posting more often when we get back into the schedule.

- Don

Daytona Follow-Up

Thanks to the many people who have called me since the Daytona race. I have gotten calls from people in Kansas, Indiana, New Jersey, Florida, and Tennessee. I appreciate the encouragement everybody has given me.

After the race, I spent a few days on a cruise. Some people who found out I was going on a cruise asked if I was celebrating making the Daytona race. Actually, I booked the cruise a few months ago thinking it would be a way to forget about the disappointment of not making the race. As it turned out I got to celebrate instead.

Thanks again to everyone for your support.

- Tim

Passing of Sarah Peterson

Sarah Peterson, wife of Tim's car owner Wayne Peterson, passed away Saturday shortly following the Daytona ARCA 200. Below is the text of a release posted on the ARCA web site. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Peterson family.

Condolences to the Family of Sarah Peterson
ALBERTVILLE AL (2-12-08)—Sarah Peterson, 67, of Pulaski, Tennessee, wife of long-time ARCA RE/MAX Series car owner Wayne Peterson, died Saturday, February 9th, 2008.
Peterson’s husband, Wayne, has been a car owner and driver in the ARCA RE/MAX Series since 1983, most recently finishing 23rd in final car owner's points in 2007. He fielded the No. 06 Star Wheels Skate Center Chevrolet for veteran driver Tim Mitchell during Saturday’s ARCA 200 at Daytona Int’l Speedway.

Sarah Peterson is survived by her husband Wayne Peterson; sons Michael, Brian and Kevin Peterson; five grandchildren; and brothers Bob, Bill, Roger and Danny Greene.

Visitation is at Albertville Memorial Funeral Home in Albertville, Alabama from 5-8 p.m. on Wednesday, February 13th, 2008. Services are at the Albertville Memorial Funeral Home Chapel at 1 p.m. on Thursday. Albertville Memorial Funeral Home is located at 5011 Hwy 431 S., Albertville, AL 35950 (256) 878-2424.

Post-Race Press Release on Daytona ARCA 200

Here is a press release distributed on Tim's behalf following the Daytona ARCA 200:

TIM MITCHELL STEADY IN FIRST ARCA DAYTONA RACE
Patience pays off with finish in 21st position

DAYTONA BEACH, FL (2-09-08) – When Tim Mitchell arrived at Daytona International Speedway earlier this week, he was excited yet realistic about his chances in the first ARCA RE/MAX series event of the 2008 season. Tim enjoys coming to Daytona, “It’s every driver’s ultimate dream to race at Daytona,” he said. But, that dream had never been fulfilled for Mitchell as he had never made the starting field. This year was different as he was able to use a provisional to start in 42nd position.

With almost the entire field in front of him, Mitchell knew that patience would be needed if he had any hope of moving toward the front. His strategy paid off as incidents that knocked out several cars in the first half of the race enabled Mitchell to move the #06 into the top 20. Spark plug problems ended his day after 69 laps and resulted in a 21st place finish. “We just couldn’t finish. We would have finished around 16th if we did not have the spark plug problem,” Mitchell said about his result.

Despite a disappointing end to what was shaping up to be a very good day, Mitchell knows his solid finish was important. In addition to giving his team positive momentum to start the season, being in the race and finishing in the position that he did allows the #06 team to accumulate valuable points. “Driver points are always important, but they become more important after the first five races,” according to Mitchell. It is at that point of the season that provisional spots are awarded based on this season’s point standings, not 2007’s standings.

In past years, missing the Daytona race had put added pressure on Mitchell’s team to perform in the races that followed. This season, the team has points in hand as it looks ahead to the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200 by Federated Auto Parts on April 13th.

About Tim Mitchell
Tim Mitchell resides in Fayetteville, Tennessee, where he owns and operates Star Wheels Skating Center. Tim is a veteran of the U.S. Army and a 1973 graduate of Middle Tennessee State University. Tim is single and has two children. Mitchell drives the #06 car for Wayne Peterson Motorsports in the ARCA RE/MAX series. He has made 114 starts in the ARCA RE/MAX series since 1997.

Daytona ARCA 200: Tim Takes 21st

Tim finished 21st in today's ARCA Daytona 200, won by Michael Annett (see results). His strategy to be patient in the early stages of the race paid off as several incidents in the first half of the race took out many drivers in front of him. Tim ran as high as 12th and just missed his goal of a top 20 finish. Not a bad day for someone who arrived at Daytona as a long shot to even make the field. Way to go, Tim!

Great Article from Detroit Free Press

Mike Brudenell wrote a nice article about Tim that appeared on the Detroit Free Press web site today. To read the article, click here.

The article gives a glimpse into Tim's remarkable story. There has to be a potential sponsor out there that will read about Tim and realize his inspirational journey would be a good match with its company's values!

Tim Is In!

There's a first time for everything, they say. That is the case for Tim as he has made the field for the ARCA 200 at Daytona tomorrow! He was among the slowest cars in practice and qualifying, but he received the final provisional starting spot. Actually, Tim will be 42nd on the grid (Frank Kimmel will be 43rd).

I asked Tim for his thoughts about being in the Daytona ARCA race. "It is a dream come true," he said. "Many times we have been one or two cars away from getting a provisional, and this year we got the last one. Now they can put on my tombstone that I raced at Daytona!" Tim acknowledges that he doesn't have the horsepower of cars at the front of the field. His strategy is to work with comparable cars in the back of the field and draft together. Between the drafting help and looking to stay away from any big wrecks, Tim hopes he can finish in the top 20.

Now that Tim has made the field, I was curious what he'd be doing between now and race time tomorrow. He plans to take it easy this evening in his motor home. Tomorrow, he intends to spend some time alone before the race to collect his thoughts.

Good luck Tim. We're pulling for you!

My Daytona Week

It's about 3:30 pm here in Daytona, and I have arrived for the race. I left home at 7:00 am Sunday morning. After a stop to attend church in Gadsden, AL, I traveled south before stopping for the evening. Now I'm at Daytona ready to begin a busy week leading up to Saturday's race.

Here are some of the highlights of this week's activities:

Tuesday:
- Registration begins and garage opens
- Prep car for inspections
- Attend meetings

Wednesday:
- Attend Crew Chief Qualifying Procedure meeting
- Attend Team Owner business meeting

Thursday:
- Practice 12-5

Friday:
- Prep car for qualifying line at 9:00 am
- Qualifying begins at 12:00 pm

It is a time of mixed feelings for me. On one hand, I'm excited about the race and love being at the track. On the other hand, there is a 99% chance I won't make the field for the race. I hate to sound pessimistic, but I have to be realistic. There are more than 75 entries for the race, and a lot of them are part of well funded racing teams.

It is a long shot that we'll make this week's race, but attempting to qualify for all races helps me accumulate points under ARCA's Golden Plan point system. And, if qualifying were to be rained out, we will make the race based on '07 points. While I'd rather drive my way into the ARCA 200, I would accept the good fortune of making the field by a rain out, too!

- Tim