Michael Pickens

Pickens beside his USAC Midget car (United States) in July 2014
Pickens racing his 2008 ASA Late Model Series car
Pickens racing in his late model at Madison International Speedway in 2007

Michael Pickens (born 7 January 1983) is a racecar driver from Birkenhead near Auckland, New Zealand. Pickens is a part-time auto racing driver part-time auto electrician. He mainly races midgets on the New Zealand national tour and winters in the United States racing in national-level USAC midget races during the middle of the year.[1] He has won races and championships in New Zealand, Australia, and United States in Quarter midgets, 3/4 Midgets, Midgets, Sprint cars and Karts.

Racing career

In 2005, Pickens competed at the Chili Bowl midget car race at Tulsa, Oklahoma. He won Rookie of the Year honors with an outstanding drive from 19th starting position to a race ending 6th-place finish. He was noticed by some key people at NASCAR NEXTEL Cup's Roush Racing. While not having prior experience on pavement, as there are no pavement ovals in New Zealand, Pickens did compete in the Roush's Driver Development Competition Program in 2005. He made it to the final round of competition and was the last driver be cut.[2]

In 2005, Pickens won the 55th running of the Australian Speedcar Grand Prix held at the Avalon Raceway in Victoria. That year he also finished second in the Australian Speedcar Championship at the Perth Motorplex. He would later finish 3rd in the 2011 Australian Championship in Lismore, New South Wales. In 2016 Michael won the Australian Speedcar title at Paramatta Raceway.

Michael's regular rides in New Zealand are Don Kay’s Breka/Ed Pink Ford #54 Midget and Gerard Ness Schee #11C Sprint car and in Australia and the USA is Hawk Racing. For the 2010 - 2011 Michael's regular Australian drive will be with Jack Berry's Polar Ice Team, competing in the Queensland Polar Ice Series and the Speedcar Super Series with this team.

In the middle of the 2007 U.S. season, he raced for Ken Hendricks’ American Speed Association Late Model Team, Urban Force Racing, mainly at Madison International Speedway.[3] He left the team in July (being replaced by Dan Lensing) near the middle of the season, and began running a mixture of midget and pavement car races for various owners.

In the 2008 U.S. racing season, he raced a midget car weekly at Angell Park Speedway and the #30 car in ASA Late Model Series events.

New Zealand titles

Winner of the 2002/03, 2006/07, 2009/10 and 2011/12 NZ Midget Championships

Winner of the 2001/02, 2007/08 and 2009/10 NZ Miget Grand Prix

Winner of the 2002/03 and 2008/09 North Island Midget Championships

Winner of the 2006/07, 2007/08, 2010/11 (deadheat) and 2011/12 World Midget 50 Lapper

Winner of the 2002/03 and 2005/06 30 Lap World Midget Derby

References

  1. ↑ Hamilton, Roger. "Michael Pickens wins Thiel Memorial Saturday". Hometown News. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
  2. ↑ Eighinger, Steve (June 6, 2014). "U.S. drivers sweep at Bullring". Quincy Herald Whig. Retrieved July 19, 2014.
  3. ↑ "High School Racing Team". Circle Track magazine. Retrieved 19 July 2014.

External links

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