Michael Pickens
All images courtesy of Alana Warrington Photography
CRC has a proud history in motorsport, supporting a number of Kiwi drivers to achieve success both at home and overseas. One of our longest standing partnerships is with Speedway legend, Michael Pickens.
About Michael Pickens
We have been partnering with Michael since 2016 and over that time, we have been proud to witness some of his fantastic performances on the track. We recently caught up with Michael to get an update for all his fans. We asked him about his road to success in speedway – where his love of the sport started and his hopes for the season ahead. Here’s what he had to say:
Michael Pickens Bio
My name is Michael Pickens. I’m a 10 times NZ Champion speedway driver racing both Midgets and Sprint Cars. I am a proud CRC ambassador and have been for the past 6 years.
I’ve been racing since the age of 10, so it’s safe to say I’m super passionate about the sport! I started out in go karts, then moved to quarter midgets when I was 13, before jumping straight to midget cars at age 15.
At 19 I won my first NZ Midget title, and soon after that started traveling to the USA and Australia to represent NZ. When I was 24, I also became involved in pavement racing in the USA, testing a NASCAR Craftsman Truck and winning a late model race in a feeder series to NASCAR. I’ve since enjoyed lots of success in both the USA and Australia, including winning the Australian Midget Title in 2016.
Compared to many other forms of motorsport, Speedway is a real show for the fans. It’s held in the evenings, it’s an action packed few hours, and the racing is ‘wheel to wheel’, meaning lots of passing and a few crashes along the way! It attracts a diverse crowd but is definitely heavily family oriented. Western Springs Speedway in Auckland is our home track, but we also travel throughout the North and South Islands, to Australia and the USA to race.
We love promoting CRC - we use the products on our race cars and we’re as passionate about the products as you are! We have a super active fan following at the track as well as via our social media online, so we’re always thinking of new ways to showcase and get fans engaged with CRC.
Outside of speedway, I live on a lifestyle block in North-West Auckland with my wife and 4-year-old daughter. We have a love for animals, so have many pets to look after at home. We also fundraise for our favourite animal charity, Paw Justice. Here’s a few of our biggest upcoming races at Western Springs, where the world’s best drivers will be coming to NZ to compete against us Kiwis:
Western Springs Fixtures 2022-23
- November 26th – International Sprint Car Series
- December 3rd – International Sprint Car Series
- December 26th – International Midget Series
2022
- January 1st – International Midget Series
- January 3rd – International Midget Series
2023
We’d love to see you there, make sure you come down to the pits and look for the big CRC tents and say hello!
Follow Michael Pickens on social media
Facebook: www.facebook.com/michaelpickensracing/
Instagram:
www.instagram.com/michaelpickensracing/
Michael Pickens 2022-23 Schedule
As Michael says, Speedway is one of the most exciting and entertaining sports in New Zealand, drawing huge crowds wherever the races are held.
In a recent interview with Bay Park Speedway, Michael listed Western Springs as his favourite racetrack stating, “It’s such a historic place and a mega atmosphere!” As you can see from his schedule above, there are plenty of opportunities to see Michael at Western Springs in 2022-23, however, he will also be racing at destinations throughout New Zealand, as well as heading over to the USA in November. Below is a timetable of the season for 2022-23, of which Michael Pickens will make an appearance and race and the majority:
| When | Where | Car | What |
| 2022 | |||
| 22 October | Baypark, Tauranga | Sprint Car and Midget | Midget All Stars |
| 12 November | Waikaraka Park | Sprint Car and Midget | Opening Night |
| 12 November | Kihikihi, Waikato | Sprint Car | Sprint Car Masters |
| 15 November | USA - Bakersfield | USA Midget | USAC |
| 17 November | USA - Placerville | USA Midget | USAC |
| 18 November | USA - Placerville | USA Midget | USAC |
| 19 November | USA - Placerville | USA Midget | USAC |
| 22 November | USA - Merced | USA Midget | USAC |
| 23 November | USA - Merced | USA Midget | USAC |
| 26 November | Western Springs, Auckland | Sprint Car and Midget | International Sprint Car Series |
| 3 December | Western Springs, Auckland | Sprint Car and Midget | International Sprint Car Series |
| 10 December | Hawkes Bay | Sprint Car and Midget | Midget All Stars |
| 10 December | Baypark, Tauranga | Sprint Car | North Island Sprint Car Championship |
| 26 December | Western Springs, Auckland | Sprint Car and Midget | International Midget Series |
| 28 December | Baypark, Tauranga | Midget | Bay International Midget 40 Lap |
| 2023 | |||
| 1 January | Western Springs, Auckland | Sprint Car and Midget | International Midget Series - Pickens Night |
| 3 January | Waikaraka Park | Midget | International Midget Series |
| 4 January | Hawkes Bay | Sprint Car | Sprint Car Masters |
| 6 January | Western Springs, Auckland | Sprint Car and Midget | International Midget Series |
| 7-16 January | USA - Tulsa | USA Midget | Chili Bowl |
| 14 January | Western Springs, Auckland | Sprint Car and Midget | Sprint Car Masters |
| 21 January | AUS - Perth | Graham Jones Midget | Perth |
| 27 January | Stratford | Midget | New Zealand Midget Title |
| 28 January | Stratford | Midget | New Zealand Midget Title |
| 4 February | Ruapuna, Christchurch | Sprint Car | New Zealand Sprint Car Title |
| 5 February | Ruapuna, Christchurch | Sprint Car | New Zealand Sprint Car Title |
| 11 February | Western Springs, Auckland | Sprint Car and Midget | Midas Night of Champions |
| 18 February | Western Springs, Auckland | Sprint Car and Midget | Midget All Stars |
| 25 February | Western Springs, Auckland | Sprint Car and Midget | Sprint Car 50 Lapper |
| 3 March | AUS - Eastern Creek | CRC Midget | Australian Title |
| 4 March | AUS - Eastern Creek | CRC Midget | Australian Title |
| 4 March | Baypark, Tauranga | Midget | Bay51 |
| 11 March | Waikaraka | Sprint Car and Midget | Sprint Car Masters and Midget All Stars |
| 17 March | Ruapuna, Christchurch | Midget | BT Race 4 Mates |
| 18 March | Ruapuna, Christchurch | Midget | Midget Grand Prix |
| 25 March | Western Springs, Auckland | Sprint Car and Midget | Legends Night |
| 1 April | Baypark, Tauranga | Sprint Car and Midget | Bay Piston and BOP Midget Champs |
| 7 April | Wellington | Sprint Car | Sprint Car Masters |
| 8 April | Palmerston North | Sprint Car and Midget | Sprint Car Master and Midget All Stars |
| 8 April | AUS - Murray Bridge, SA | CRC Midget | Australasian Speedcar Champs |
| 9 April | AUS - Murray Bridge, SA | CRC Midget | Australasian Speedcar Champs |
| 15 April | Kihikihi, Waikato | Midget | Midget All Stars |
Some of the dates are still to be confirmed with Michael managing his calendar where clashes occur. Keep checking back for further information.
2022 Season Updates
Baypark Speedway – 22 October 2022
The first race of the new season took place at Baypark Speedway on 22 October. Here is Michael’s update:
- CRC Industries NZ midget - experimented with something new on the car and it didn't get the results we wanted, ended up 3rd in the feature!
- CRC Industries NZ / Stadium Finance sprint car - encountered motor problems while running 4th in the feature and had to pull in!
Huge thanks to our sponsors and crew who we wouldn't be racing without, our next scheduled race is at Waikaraka on November 12th!