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Midget Ace Has Nascar Dream
By TONY COFFIN - Manawatu Standard | Friday, 9 March 2007
New Zealand midget car sensation Michael Pickens has big ambitions - he wants to drive Nascars in the United States.
The flying Aucklander will be the star driver at tomorrow night's North Island midget car championship meeting at FMG Stadium.
By TONY COFFIN - Manawatu Standard | Friday, 9 March 2007
New Zealand midget car sensation Michael Pickens has big ambitions - he wants to drive Nascars in the United States.
The flying Aucklander will be the star driver at tomorrow night's North Island midget car championship meeting at FMG Stadium.
Pickens has his career mapped out. Unlike other dirt track drivers who head to the United States, it isn't sprintcars, midgets or even on dirt where he sees his future.
Pickens knows it won't be easy to break into Nascars, although he's had three trial drives. The first one was when he was the only dirt track driver, without tarmac experience, among 1700 drivers seeking a drive for the professional team.
"I got down to the last three and I put in some quick times but the lack of tarmac racing counted against me in the end," he said. "They were impressed with my speed though."
Pickens knows it won't be easy to break into Nascars, although he's had three trial drives. The first one was when he was the only dirt track driver, without tarmac experience, among 1700 drivers seeking a drive for the professional team.
"I got down to the last three and I put in some quick times but the lack of tarmac racing counted against me in the end," he said. "They were impressed with my speed though."
Pickens, 24, leaves for the States in two weeks' time and has been given a drive for a team two levels below Nascars, which he hopes might help him into a professional team. But he admits it's tough."There are a lot of classes and teams for drivers to get into in the States, but unless you get into the top teams, there isn't a lot of money to be made."
Although Pickens has been given a car to race, he has had to raise money to live on during the few months he's away. Recently he organised an auction in Auckland where he even stunned himself by raising more than $50,000 dollars.
He's one of 24 racers, mainly from Western Springs, for the first midget car championship held at Arena Manawatu. The $3000 first prize was a big pull.
Pickens has been the standout driver this season in a series that has included the top American drivers.
He won the New Zealand title at Ruapuna two weeks ago and the national series title last week.
He also beat the top American and New Zealand drivers when he won the two big 50 lap features at Western Springs as well as the international series.
Pickens hasn't seen the Palmerston North track, but did watch stockcar racing on TV recently.
"It looks very similar to all New Zealand tracks where it will slick up as the night goes on; I'm looking forward to it."
In his ninth season of racing, Pickens, who was brought up at Western Springs, doesn't have the same fondness for stockcar racing.
"No, it looks too easy to get hurt for me. I can't understand how people can spend so much on cars only to bash into each other."
He may be the star attraction of the Tim Buys Auto Services North Island title, but New Zealand's international drivers Shane Alach, Bryce Townsend and Brad Mosen wil be there.
Five times national champion Michael Kendall hasn't featured in the past couple of years, but if he can sort out his new car he'll be tough.
Although Pickens has been given a car to race, he has had to raise money to live on during the few months he's away. Recently he organised an auction in Auckland where he even stunned himself by raising more than $50,000 dollars.
He's one of 24 racers, mainly from Western Springs, for the first midget car championship held at Arena Manawatu. The $3000 first prize was a big pull.
Pickens has been the standout driver this season in a series that has included the top American drivers.
He won the New Zealand title at Ruapuna two weeks ago and the national series title last week.
He also beat the top American and New Zealand drivers when he won the two big 50 lap features at Western Springs as well as the international series.
Pickens hasn't seen the Palmerston North track, but did watch stockcar racing on TV recently.
"It looks very similar to all New Zealand tracks where it will slick up as the night goes on; I'm looking forward to it."
In his ninth season of racing, Pickens, who was brought up at Western Springs, doesn't have the same fondness for stockcar racing.
"No, it looks too easy to get hurt for me. I can't understand how people can spend so much on cars only to bash into each other."
He may be the star attraction of the Tim Buys Auto Services North Island title, but New Zealand's international drivers Shane Alach, Bryce Townsend and Brad Mosen wil be there.
Five times national champion Michael Kendall hasn't featured in the past couple of years, but if he can sort out his new car he'll be tough.