Remembering Mike Mittler

Former NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series owner Mike Mittler died Friday. He was 67.

Last fall it was revealed through Facebook that Mittler was battling cancer.

Through his team, MB Motorsports, Mittler fielded trucks in over 300 races from 1995 -- the inaugural season for the series -- through 2018. His team never won a race and scored three top-10 and one top-five finish; however, many of NASCAR’s most recognizable names once drove for Mittler.

Mittler’s influence was obvious through the outpouring of posts on social media. Brad Keselowski was one of the first to comment about Mittler’s passing, calling him a friend and mentor.

https://twitter.com/keselowski/status/1127004712417529857

https://twitter.com/KeselowskiBrian/status/1127008002421284865

Among those who once drove for Mittler were Jamie McMurray, Carl Edwards, Justin Allgaier, and Regan Smith.

https://twitter.com/jamiemcmurray/status/1127006262128934913

https://twitter.com/odsteve/status/1127017818023714816

World Wide Technology Raceway owner and CEO Curtis Francois as well as Chris Blair, the executive vice president and general manager of World Wide Technology Raceway in St. Louis, posted statements about Mittler’s passing on their website. Mittler operated his shop from Missouri.

Another Truck Series team owner, DJ Copp, posted in February that his team would be honoring Mittler throughout the season.

Said Copp at the time: “Mike and I have worked together extensively over the years and I couldn’t be prouder to pay tribute to him this season. Mike has been in the truck series since its inception. He has given some pretty big names their start in NASCAR, including Carl Edwards and Justin Allgaier. If it wasn’t for people like Mike who have paved the way, we wouldn’t have the opportunities that we have now to participate in NASCAR.”

https://twitter.com/ClintBowyer/status/1127016366014435328

https://twitter.com/SZipadelli/status/1127057800625098752

https://twitter.com/LandonHuffman/status/1127023546344067073