Encounter with wall ends Olson’s top-five run
ALK Promotions, August 24
For the second week in a row, Mitch Olson had a promising run come to a disappointing end at Skagit Speedway. A week after Olson had a win taken away from him on a last lap pass, Olson was running second in the 410 sprint car feature when that run suddenly ended he struck the wall late in the race.
The Puyallup, Wash. driver, piloting the Mike Olson No. 98m Shark-powered KPC sponsored by SC Fuels, Olson Excavating, Pro-Vac and PRS Group, was one of the faster drivers in the 410 sprint car division on Saturday night. Out of 17 cars, Olson started the evening being the fourth quickest in qualifying with a time of 11.902 seconds around the 3/10-mile, high-banked clay oval. In the evening’s second heat race, Olson finished fourth.
Olson started the 25-lap inside the second row and ran third for most of the race behind Travis Rutz and Eric Fisher. Olson inherited second place on lap 16 when Fisher dropped out. He then tried to run down Rutz late in the race on a dry slick track that developed a cushion.
With two laps left, disaster struck when Olson jumped the cushion on the high side of the track and struck the wall, causing damage to the rear of the car severe enough to end his night. Olson, who twice in the last two weeks has come close to winning his first 410 sprint car main event, was credited with a 14th place finish.
Next up for Olson is a few nights of racing with the “Greatest Show on Dirt” on Labor Day weekend. The Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series, which boasts some of the world’s best sprint car racers, are making their annual visit to Washington. Olson will race them at Skagit again on Friday and Saturday, August 29 and 30. Two days later on Labor Day, Olson will return to Grays Harbor Raceway in Elma to again race with the Outlaws.
Over the last few years, Mitch Olson has established himself as one of the top sprint car drivers in the Pacific Northwest, with victories at Skagit and Grays Harbor Raceway in 360 sprint cars to his credit, along with numerous top-five efforts at other tracks in Oregon. Olson is looking for experienced people, preferably living in Washington’s Pierce County, who may be interested in joining the No. 98m team.
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Mitch Olson’s sponsors
SC Fuels
Olson Bros. Excavating
Pro-Vac
PRS Group
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Skagit Speedway - Alger, WA: http://www.skagitspeedway.comGrays Harbor Raceway - Elma, WA: http://www.graysharborraceway.netAdvance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series: http://www.worldofoutlaws.com/sprint
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