Talkin about the “Cat Man”: Jon Mitchell - By: A.J.Payne
Posted Jody Shannon on February 4th, 2008 | Filed under A.J. Payne, Articles, The DRC
The past season it was my honor to make it out to some of the best (SUPER) late model racing around, and meet wonderful people like the 2007 AMPSeries Late Model Champion, Jon Mitchell from Texarkana, Texas has to be the most over looked experienced late model driver out there today. This past year I was able to watch Jon, with his 16 year racing veteran, as he was able to march to through the 2007 season with his real world track smarts to what was in the end his first series title in the late model division, when he brought home the 2007 AMPSeries Championship. This both showed his skills behind the wheel, as well as the ability to setup his car to give him the best chance to get the best finishes. 
Jon prepared his number 5 GRT by “Cat Man” late model team to go into this past race season with high hopes of competing for wins and even a championship when the season was complete. Therefore, Jon’s goals were clear, he had to be able to go into different dirt tracks all around the Arkansas area and come away with solid finishes, which he met and surpassed this past season when he was able to capture the inaugural AMPSeries SUPER late model championship for the 2007 season. He was able to out gun many of the to drivers in the Arkansas area like Kyle Beard, Clay Fisher, Dewaine Hottinger, Larry Potter, and Kid Smooth Billy Moyer, Jr.Even with all this top-notch competition, Jon in the end was able to bring home the top prize in the AMP Series (SUPER) late model division, as well as finishing well at many more local and nation events. This is due in part from the fact that the experience Jon gained while following another traveling series in the years leading up to the AMPSeries forming in 2007. This in addition, with his open wheel championship in 1998 I have no doubt helped Jon compete and lay hold of the inaugural AMPSeries championship.
Although there is no doubt in my mind the 2008 race season will, be no easy task for the “Cat Man” and he will know he will have to take his race program to the next level. In addition, I am sure the “Cat Man” is ready to compete for the 2008 AMPSeries championship with what he was able to do at the Third Annual Wild West Shootout at Central Arizona Raceway has better, prepare Jon for the rest of the 2008 race season.
Furthermore, the “Cat Man” picked up honors and a check for 5001.00 from the AMPSeries for his efforts, as the series closed out this past race season, at Woody Sherwood Forest in Sherwood, Arkansas, January 26. In addition, people in attendance were moved by what the “Cat Man” did as he was being honored for his championship, as he turned the tables on the AMPSeries President, Christy Hudson, and give her an honor for all the long hours and hard work she has put forward this past year. This to me shows, just how great champions conduct themselves, and is what I like to see happening in the racing world. The way the “Cat Man” operates is what I like to see and will always drop what I am doing to write about without a doubt. Kudos to the “Cat Man” for this action, because I think it is worth to point out and should make all my reads want to go out to the races and pull for someone that is always thinking of those that have helped them out.
Nevertheless, Jon and all the rest of the competitors will bring their “A Game” to the tracks all around the Arkansas area this season. Therefore, I look forward in the 2008 race season to see what Jon is able to do against some of the best competitors in the country that are located in the state of Arkansas. Finally, I would say, to all of my readers to checkout www.jonmitchellracing.com or www.ampseries.com to see where Jon will be at and get out and see him and the other competitors at a track near you. Oh yea, and buy some freak’n Jon Mitchell wear as well as some smoke’n hot race wear from one of the other racers this race season when they invade a local track never you.
One more thing, give some luv to the people who support the “Cat Man”. This includes W&W Timber, Marion Towing, JFR Graphics, GRT Race Cars, J&J Motorsports, Bell Helmets, BSB Manufacturing, Duralite Wheels, GRT Fab, Performance Powder Coating, Hawk Performance Break Pads, Integra Shocks and Springs, Brodix, Stealth Carburetors, Bert, Simpson, Outpace, Schoenfield, Kenneth’s High Performance, Big Worm Motorsports, Franklin Rear Ends, Cam Motion, RCI, Port City Racing, Woodward Steering and Wilwood, Dyers Top Rods, ASI Racewear, Pectol Motorsports, Two Rivers Agri Service, Ark La Tex Driveshafts, Schafers Racing Oil, and Victory Lane Web Designs
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February 5th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
Hello everyone…I see that I did not do enough editing on two of the pics, but plz feel free to leave me a comment…thank U so very much…