Akwesasne, NY — July 3, 2010 – Bill Smith, Mohawk Int’l Raceway PR Director
Members of the Seaway Valley racing community and DIRTcar Racing were deeply saddened by the passing of young DIRTcar 358-Modified star Mitch Jock on June 30. Jock had been struck by an illness over the winter months but was still deeply involved in racing, including competing in several events early in the Spring.
Mitch was well respected by competitors and very popular with the fans. He was regarded as one of the sport’s rising stars and captured his first track championship at the age of 14, back in the late 1990s when he competed in the Rookie (now Bandit) division. After several outstanding seasons in the tough Pro Stock division, where he established himself as one of the best full-fendered drivers on the DIRT circuit, Mitch moved up to the 358 Modifieds in late 2007 for a very limited schedule before moving to the division full-time in 2008.
Mitch was MIR’s 2008 358 Modified Rookie of the Year, finishing second in points and scoring a memorable win at Autodrome Edelweiss in a prestigious Syracuse Qualifier extra distance event. Mitch finished fifth in MIR’s 2009 point standings.
The owners, officials and staff of MIR would like to express their deepest sympathies to Mitch’s family. Mitch touched so many of us in the racing community and he will be deeply missed. Our thoughts are with the family in this difficult time.
Before racing began on Friday night, July 2, Mitch’s Warrior Racing #14 Modified was driven around the track by his sister-in-law, Jenna David, and all of the drivers in attendance assembled in turn four in silent salute to Mitch’s memory. Mitch’s #14 Modified was also the pace vehicle for the 358-Modified feature event.