Getting Up To Speed With…Mitch Hoffses
By Ben Deatherage
(Photo Courtesy of Jim Marshall)
Mitch Hoffses is one of the rising stars of the entire Pacific Northwest. A five-time National Quarter Midget champion the Beaverton, Oregon native has won ten Sprint Car features in thirteen career starts. In 2013 he will compete in both the Northwest Extreme Sprints at Banks and the Northwest Wingless Tour. Keep an eye on this young man as he appears to have a bright future in the sport of auto racing.
Driver: Mitch Hoffses
Home Track: Sunset Speedway Park
Hometown: Beaverton, Oregon
Occupation: Construction Worker
Age: 20
Years Racing: 15
Classification: Northwest Extreme Sprints/Northwest Wingless Tour
Car Number: 5
Chassis: Rocket
Sponsors: Schram Brothers Excavating, BDR Racing
Special Thanks: Jerry Schram, Ryan Bothwell, Carl Hoffses (Father)
BD: You’ve had a very decorated career at a young age. Looking back what would you say is your favorite moment?
MH: That’s a tough one. I would have to say just watching myself progress and mastering the type of tracks and cars that I have ran. I love looking back at the results of when we first started and comparing them to now.
BD: You compete in a Sprint Car with a Crate engine and they seem to be a lot of fun. What do you think of them?
MH: It really is great for someone that is trying to find a reasonable priced engine to get into Sprint Car racing. The Northwest Extreme Sprint class is a great stepping stone for guys just starting out in Sprints and Sunset Speedway Park is a perfect size to learn on.
BD: A few years back you ran Kenyon Midgets in the Midwest. Correct?
MH: Yeah I ran at Anderson Speedway and Mt. Lawn Speedway in Indiana. That was the time when I was getting out of the Micro Sprints and getting into Midgets. It’s a very competition series that ran about three times a week.
BD: Do you have an outlined plan of what you would like to accomplish in your future as a race car driver?
MH: Well I’d like to be racing with the American Sprint Car Series within five years either on a local or national level. Ultimately I would love to run with the World of Outlaws full time.
BD: Who has been your biggest influence/inspiration to you?
MH: Honestly it’s got to be Steve Kinser. I’ve watched him since I was a little kid. As I got older and was hanging around in the pits I would always be by his car watching them all work together. I had the chance to see him a lot at Eldora when I was attending school in Ohio. I found out that he’s a really nice guy and would take time to talk to me and answer any questions I had for him.
The Northwest Extreme Sprints will be on hand at the Sunset Speedway this Saturday for their third race of the season. Other classes in action will be the IMCA Modifieds, Midgets, and 4-Bee’s. For more information be sure and log on towww.sunsetspeedwaypark.com.
- Ben Deatherage on Jun 06, 2013
- Article Date: 6/6/2013