Michael Pickens
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Michael Pickens (born January 7, 1983) is from Birkenhead near Auckland, New Zealand. Michael is a part time auto racing driver part time auto electrician who has won races and championships in New Zealand, Australia, and United States in 1/4 Midgets, 3/4 Midgets, Midgets, Sprint cars and Karts.
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. This USA summer he will be driving for Ken Hendricks’ ASA Late Model Team, Urban Force Racing, mainly at Madison International Speedway. This will be his first serious attempt and paved oval racing.
In 2005, Michael competed at the Chili Bowl in Tulsa, Oklahoma where he won Rookie of the Year honors with an outstanding drive from 19th starting position to a race ending 6th place finish. Which got him noticed by some key people at Roush Racing. While not having prior experience on pavement, as there are no pavement ovals in New Zealand, Michael did compete in the Roush version of Driver Development Competition Program and handled the task with ease as he made it to the final round of competition, and highly impressed all of the Roush Team with his quick adaptability to pavement racing.
[edit] NZ Titles
Michael Pickens won the 2006/2007 New Zealand Midget Car championship at Western Springs Speedway.
