INDIANAPOLIS — Report by Race Chaser Online Managing Editor Jacob Seelman — MMM photo —
Mason Mitchell Motorsports announced on Friday at the PRI Trade Show in Indianapolis that 18-year-old Austin Wayne Self will pilot the team’s No. 98 Ford for the 2015 ARCA Racing Series season.
Mitchell set high expectations for the team he formed in December of 2013 in its inaugural season, winning his first career ARCA race at Chicagoland Speedway in July and scoring 18 top-10 finishes in 20 races en route to the 2014 series championship. The Iowa native says he doesn’t expect that performance level to drop heading into 2015.
“I think the goal, realistically, going into 2015, is to compete for the championship,” Mitchell said. “Austin is a talented race car driver. The combination of our team and Austin will be able to compete for wins and compete for the championship again.”
Self, the talented teenager from central Texas, comes off his rookie ARCA season in which he won the SCOTT Rookie of the Year Award driving for Cunningham Motorsports, and scored a season-best second place finish at the Talladega Superspeedway in May.
“I’m really excited about being able to join a championship winning team, this is a great opportunity,” said Self. “I like the feel at the MMM shop. The morale at the shop is different than any other team, everyone works hard and gives it one hundred percent because everyone there wants it, and wants to win. I had a really strong 2014 season but I feel more confident in our 2015 effort, I feel like we can focus on winning races and a championship.”
The young gun relocated to North Carolina following the end of the ARCA season to be closer to the Mason Mitchell Motorsports base of operations, and Mitchell said the two had struck up a solid relationship while competing against one another through the course of the 2014 season.
“He’s been at the shop a lot,” Mitchell said. “He’s basically moved his whole life to North Carolina and [is ready to] attack this thing in 2015. That means a lot because I basically did the same thing last season, moving to my race shop and dedicating myself to going out there and attempting to win the championship.”
The effort for 2015 will be sponsored by AM Technical Solutions, Self’s long time sponsor.
“Coming off such a great 2014 [season], with Austin and his team winning the ARCA Rookie of the Year Award, our entire company is really excited for the next season to start up,” said Kelly McAndrews, CEO of AM Technical Solutions. “We’re very proud to be a part of that success, and to know that we’re supporting a driver and program that values hard work and strong values.”
“Austin’s move to MMM, whose previous driver won the 2014 ARCA championship, just puts us in an even better position to reach our 2015 goals and compete for a championship. We look forward to continuing to be actively involved because we value the brand exposure and differentiation this sponsorship imparts.”
Self expressed during the ARCA press conference that he was looking forward to kicking off the 2015 season at Daytona International Speedway in February with the 52nd running of the Lucas Oil 200 presented by MAVTV American Real. He also pointed out that his growth was a big think that stuck out to him as the season went on this year.
“This past year was a big year for me learning,” said Self, 18. “There are a lot of drivers out there you can look up to and learn from. Mason was one that really stuck out. He’s a young driver and a driver that really worked hard on the track and off the track.
“I’m super excited to be able to join MMM. He’s proven that’s a really good team and program.”
Both Self and Mitchell will be honored for their 2014 accomplishments at the ARCA Racing Series post-season banquet on Saturday in Indianapolis before turning their attention to the upcoming season.
