Olson returning to Skagit 360 Nationals
ALK Promotions, July 31
Mitch Olson earned the nickname “Mr. Friday Night” at Skagit Speedway last year. That came as a result of two high-profile victories on Friday nights at the 3/10-mile, high-banked clay oval in 2007.
Both wins came in Northwest Sprint Challenge Series competition in a 360 sprint car. That second win, however, came on one of 360 sprint car racing’s biggest stages in the Pacific Northwest. Olson was the preliminary feature winner of the Bob’s Burgers & Brew Skagit 360 Nationals. That win and his top-five finish in the finale the next night helped him to a second place finish in NSCS points at the end of the season.
Olson’s success came despite the fact a loaded field, a whopping 68 cars strong, was on hand as the Skagit 360 Nationals was the closing event of Northwest Speed Week with the NSCS, which ran its only season last year after replacing the Northern Sprint Tour. That car count not only broke the Speed Week record (59 in 2005 at two Oregon tracks), but it also broke the NST’s old record of 62 cars from a 2002 event at Skagit Speedway. Obviously, with that many cars there were a lot of heavy hitters in the field, and Olson still finished in the top five on both nights.
Mitch Olson is expected to be back at the Alger, Wash. speed plant this weekend for the 19th annual event, which is again an un-sanctioned event. Aside from his victories last year in 360 competition, the Puyallup, Wash. driver also put a 410ci motor under the hood and finished a strong sixth in a 54-car field at the Jim Raper Memorial Dirt Cup in June and also led a part of one of the preliminary night feature events.
Driving the Mike Olson No. 98m Shark-powered KPC, sponsored by SC Fuels, Olson Bros. Excavating, Pro-Vac and PRS Group, Mitch Olson has established himself as one of the top sprint car drivers in the state of Washington. Olson is expected to be one of the favorites to win the $10,000 top prize on Saturday night.
Skagit Speedway is offering a total purse of $60,000 for the event. ALK Promotions is also setting up a Hard Charger Award with fans this weekend. ALK Promotions offered up $100 to start with and so far another $200 has been pledged by several diehard fans who are looking to support the sport of sprint car racing. The driver who moves up the furthest in Saturday’s main events will receive a check for the amount raised for his or her efforts. Should Olson find himself in a tough spot for Saturday’s main events, he will be one of the drivers to watch out for when it comes to the Hard Charger Award bonus money.
Olson and his team are currently looking for any experienced people, preferably living in Washington’s Pierce County, who are interested in working on the No 98m team. Olson is expected to race with the Advanced Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series when they roll through Washington on Labor Day weekend.
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Mitch Olson’s sponsors
SC Fuels
Pro-Vac
Olson Bros. Excavating
PRS Group
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Skagit Speedway - Alger, WA: http://www.skagitspeedway.com
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