Ganassi looks at another foreign driver
12/27/07 New Zealand midget racing super star Michael Pickens will try again to secure a ride in NASCAR, with backing most likely coming from Chip Ganassi Racing.
Pickens is a two time national champion in his native New Zealand and came to the States early in 2007 to try his hand at stock cars with hope for an eventual spot in NASCAR. That trip however turned out to be controversial for the young man who normally drives a tow truck when he’s not racing.
Pickens supporters contributed more than $50,000 (AU) in a fund raising auction titled ‘Pickens 4 NASCAR’. The supporters believed the money was going towards Pickens buying pavement rides while he was in America.
When he arrived in March Pickens’ plan was to drive for the Wisconsin based Urban Force Racing Team – a fully funded free drive in the teams Late Model Stock Car. And to buy Late Model rides in what was described as “other opportunities that have been offered to him" and then to “maybe, run a couple of dirt races at the end of the season".
But after just four races with the Urban Force Team and going against instructions from the team, Pickens appeared at the opening meeting at Angell Park, piloting a Steve Smith owed Midget, in the feature race Pickens crashed heavily wrecking the Smith car.
Back with the Urban Force Team it seemed Pickens was starting to get to grips with pavement racing when he finished 3rd in the 50 Lap Feature race at Madison International Speedway June 8. Cupscene