Mitch Gibson has served as a pit crew member in all three NASCAR national series. Now, he will attempt his ARCA Menards Series debut at Daytona International Speedway driving for Rise Motorsports, the team announced on Jan. 25.
Gibson will pilot the No. 31 Chevrolet with an SB2 motor under the hood. Team co-owner Tim Goulet will serve as the crew chief and Rick Goodale will be the eyes in the sky atop the spotter stand.
Gibson will be sponsored by C&S Construction Services, Inc., Cabinet Designs, Wytheville VA, Nelson Brothers Racing, Brigitte Easterling and the #playwithheart Trevor Easterling Memorial, Scottie Nichols Memorial, Gibson/Barker Motorsports and Amsoil Authorized Dealers Dealer Barry Gibson. Team sponsors National Police Association and Back the Lane will also be onboard the racecar.
“Ed Nelson and his brother, they’ve been a big part of putting this deal together,” Gibson told Frontstretch. “I’m going to have a few people as I’m running a memorial on my car.”
Unlike at Michigan International Speedway in 2023 when Rita Goulet served as a one-person pit crew when her husband Tim piloted the racecar, the team will have UNOH pit crew members at Daytona.
With his support and the opportunity to make a lifelong dream come true, Gibson is not nervous.
“I hope it’ll all work out and you never know where we may end up,” he continued. “I don’t know if I’ve got a lot of emotions. I’ve worked for NASCAR Cup Series teams a lot over the years. I changed tires for Ward Burton in the Cup Series and worked in the NASCAR Xfinity and Craftsman Truck Series. I worked for Ben Rhodes as his tire specialist at ThorSport Racing so I’ve got a lot of background in racing. I was one of the last 20 members who got laid off from Morgan-McClure Motorsports in 2008. So I’ve been around the sport a long time and been gracious enough to work around a lot of great people. I’ve always raced and always enjoyed racing. I have a lot of friends that I’ve made in racing.”
Yes, Gibson’s racing history dates to when he was a youngster racing at his local racetracks. He went to high school with former NASCAR driver Danny O’Quinn. Gibson then worked on O’Quinn’s race team in the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series, now known as the zMax CARS Tour. When O’Quinn got signed by Jack Roush, Gibson went to work for Henderson Motorsports in the Trucks. Afterward, he went to work for Morgan-McClure. He was the front tire…
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