MEDIA

Missouri Brothers Warm Up to “The World Center of Racing”

Both competing in WKA’s Daytona KartWeek by Cometic Gasket

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Mason Mitchell is six. Brother Logan is seven. Both are boys of few words and instead let their driving skills do the talking for them. 
 
“I like to win,” said the youngest Mitchell. “So do I,” said the eldest.
 
The brothers, and mom and dad, have exiled themselves from the frosty Missouri weather to enjoy their first trip to historic Daytona International Speedway to compete in the WKA’s Daytona KartWeek by Cometic Gasket this weekend. The siblings are just two of the hundreds of competitors hitting the pavement and enjoying the ideal weather conditions at DIS including NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver and DIS’s defending July Sprint Cup Series 400 champion Jamie McMurray, as well as his father, Jim, who is a regular kart entry at DIS.
 
Nestled under a tent in the corner of the DIS infield and making the multi-hour trip from Palmyra, Missouri, both are glad to be here and excited to make their first “start” at “The World Center of Racing.”
 
“This is pretty cool,” said Mason who is in kindergarten back home and, along with his brother compete in the Kid Karts division. “We rode the tram last night and rode in the cars on the track. It was pretty cool.”
 
Mason has won two championships (2006 & 2007) in the Kid Kart Division at his local track in West Quincy, Missouri. The brothers also compete in the Central State Series to perfect their driving skills. Brother Logan has also claimed several victories including the local Kid Kart Championship in 2005 and the Central States Super Series Kid Kart Division in 2006.
 
“Yea, this is cool,” said Logan, a three-year karting veteran. “I really like it,” Through his interpreter – Mom, Kristi – that means he’s having a great time. “This is our first time here and it’s unbelievable. We’re having such a great time.”
 
On Saturday, both were trying to find their groove on the challenging -mile infield Sprint Course located inside NASCAR turns 3 and 4.
 
To see Mason, Logan or Jamie McMurray on the sprint course or more than 200 road racers including Jamie’s dad Jim, tackle the high banks in karts traveling more than 100 mph, stop by the Speedway between 9-5 Sunday.