Michael Pickens
Encyclopedia
Michael Pickens is a racecar driver from Birkenhead
near Auckland
, New Zealand
. Michael is a part time auto racing driver part time auto electrician. He has won races and championships in New Zealand, Australia
, and United States
in Quarter midgets
, 3/4 Midgets
, Midgets, Sprint cars
and Karts.
In 2005, Michael 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, Michael did compete in the Roush's Driver Development Competition Program. He made it to the final round of competition.
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 Micheal'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
. 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.
.
Birkenhead, New Zealand
Birkenhead is a suburb of Auckland, in northern New Zealand. It is located on the north shore of the Waitemata Harbour, four kilometres northwest of the Auckland city centre....
near Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. Michael is a part time auto racing driver part time auto electrician. He has won races and championships in New Zealand, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, and United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in Quarter midgets
Quarter Midget racing
Quarter Midget racing is a form of automobile racing. The cars are approximately one quarter the size of a full size midget car. The adult size midget being raced during the start of quarter midget racing, used an oval track of one fifth of a mile in length. The childs quarter midget track is one...
, 3/4 Midgets
Midget car racing
Midget cars, also Speedcars in Australia, are very small race cars with a very high power-to-weight ratio and typically use four-cylinder engines.-Cars:Typically, these cars have 300 to 400 horsepower and weigh...
, Midgets, Sprint cars
Sprint car racing
Sprint cars are high-powered race cars designed primarily for the purpose of running on short oval or circular dirt or paved tracks. Sprint car racing is popular in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa....
and Karts.
In 2005, Michael competed at the Chili Bowl midget car race at Tulsa, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
. 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
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
NEXTEL Cup
NEXTEL Cup
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is the top racing series of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing . The series was originally known as the Strictly Stock Series and Grand National Series . While leasing its naming rights to R. J...
's Roush Racing
Roush Racing
Roush Fenway Racing is a racing team competing in NASCAR racing. As one of NASCAR's largest premier racing teams, Roush runs teams in the Sprint and Nationwide Series, and formerly in the Camping World Truck Series and ARCA RE/MAX Series.Roush first entered NASCAR competition in 1988, but had...
. While not having prior experience on pavement, as there are no pavement ovals in New Zealand, Michael did compete in the Roush's Driver Development Competition Program. He made it to the final round of competition.
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 Micheal'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
American Speed Association
The American Speed Association is a sanctioning body of motorsports in the United States formed in 1968. The Association was based in Pendleton, Indiana and currently is headquarters in Daytona Beach, Florida. ASA was most famous for a national touring series which began in 1973 but was...
Late Model Team, Urban Force Racing, mainly at Madison International Speedway
Madison International Speedway
The Madison International Speedway is a stock car racing oval in the town of Rutland in rural Oregon, Wisconsin a short distance off of Wisconsin Highway 138. The track is billed as "The Track of Champions" and "Wisconsin's Fastest Half Mile." The weekly program at the track runs on Friday...
. 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
Angell Park Speedway
Angell Park Speedway has a 1/3 mile dirt racetrack located in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. The track has been run by the city's fire department since 1903. Racing occurs every Sunday approximately Memorial Day until Labor Day. Special racing events and the weather may alter the schedule...
and the #30 car in ASA Late Model Series
ASA Late Model Series
ASA Late Model Series is a nationally touring American stock car racing series. Founded by Ron Varney in 2003 as the "USPRO Cup Series" , it was renamed "ASA Late Model Series in when it was purchased by the American Speed Association in 2004...
events.
New Zealand Titles
Michael Pickens won the 2006/2007 New Zealand Midget Car championship at Western Springs SpeedwayWestern Springs Stadium
Western Springs Stadium is an entertainment venue in Auckland, New Zealand, that consists of a natural amphitheatre. During the winter it is used for club rugby union matches and over summer it is used for speedway. It is also occasionally used for large music concerts and festivals.Western Springs...
.