Longtime Truck Series Car Owner Mike Mittler Dies at 67

Mike Mittler who owned the MB Motorsports team for 24 seasons in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series, has passed away at the age of 67 after a battle with cancer.

The news was confirmed on Twitter by many of the folks that worked with Mittler over the years.

Lost a dear friend today. Mike Mittler gave me my first big break in NASCAR. He loved racing as much or more than anyone I have ever been around. I will always cherish the time I spent racing for Mike and his wife Bev. pic.twitter.com/0wpmJ74wKI

— Jamie McMurray (@jamiemcmurray) May 11, 2019

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Today longtime #NASCAR Truck Series owner Mike Mittler lost his courageous battle with cancer. We were honored to be primary sponsor on his #63 truck in Phoenix in 2017. RIP Mr. Mittler. #63Mittler #NASCARtrucks pic.twitter.com/Cp6qwdY9Ac

— SMD Racing (@SMD_racing) May 11, 2019

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Mittler was essentially the Junie Donlavey of the Truck Series as his truck served as the launching pad for many successful NASCAR driving careers.

Over the years Mittler fielded trucks for Carl Edwards, Jamie McMurray, Kenny Irwin Jr., Justin Allgaier and Brad Keselowski.

Mittler’s trucks started 301 times in the NGOTS, and although a MB Motorsports truck never visited victory lane, Bobby Pierce scored a runner-up finish for the team at Eldora in 2015 after starting from the pole.