Mason Mitchell to Make ARCA Racing Series Debut with Eddie Sharp Racing

Mason Mitchell, an 18-year-old from West Des Moines, Iowa, will join Eddie Sharp Racing as a developmental driver in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards, the team announced recently.

Mitchell will make select starts this season, and plans to make his debut in the Prairie Meadows 200 at Iowa Speedway this Friday.

With 12 years of experience in everything from two wheels to four, Mitchell will make the transition to the ARCA Racing Series after spending the last year racing on the American Speed Association Midwest Tour and as a regular at Hawkeye Downs Speedway.

"It's been my dream since I was a little kid to make it to big-time stock car racing," said Mitchell, who has over 50 late model races under his belt. "Joining a team the caliber of ESR is a dream come true. I want to thank my dad and our great sponsor J&S AG Services for making this a reality."

The team's plans are to run Mitchell in several test sessions and a handful of ARCA Racing Series events this season including Friday at Iowa, July 27 at Indianapolis, and the October 19 season finale at Kansas to get his feet wet leading into a full-time ARCA effort for 2013.

A proven contender in the ARCA Racing Series, Sharp joined forces with driver Justin Lofton to win the 2009 series championship. ESR has proven to be a top team for developing young talent for NASCAR competition. Drivers like Justin Lofton, Michael McDowell, Scott Speed, and Craig Goess have all driven ESR entries in the ARCA Racing Series and have found success in the form of championships, rookie of the year titles, and race wins.

"Mason is a great kid and exactly what we look for in a young driver," said Eddie Sharp, owner of Eddie Sharp Racing. "He has tons of seat time with success at all levels, but most importantly he is driven and extremely determined to be successful in this sport. We're excited to add Mason to our development team."