John Mickel
Encyclopedia
John Mickel is a stock car racer and commentator. He has raced in NASCAR
Craftsman Truck Series
and Pickup Truck Racing
with TorqueSpeed. He was also a commentator for Sky Sports
' coverage of NASCAR racing through 2008-9.
where he was named both World and European champion. He joined the SCSA-Europe tour in its inaugural year in 2001, where he won the series' first championship.
In 2002, he began racing part-time in the United States
. After failing to qualify for two races in the Craftsman Truck Series, he began racing in the American Speed Association
in 2004. He also planned to drive the 66 car part-time for Travis Carter Motorsports
in the NEXTEL Cup
Series that season, but the deal fell through. In 2005, he made his NASCAR debut in the Truck Series at Texas Motor Speedway
, driving the #4 Dodge Ram
for Bobby Hamilton Racing
, starting 35th and finishing 29th. The next season, he ran the final five races of the Truck Series schedule leasing owner's points and equipment from the #07 Green Light Racing
Chevrolet. His best finish was 20th at Atlanta Motor Speedway
.
He was scheduled to run with Green Light full-time in 2007, but instead Tim Sauter
got the ride. During testing at Daytona International Speedway
, Speed Channel
had reported that Mickel will bring sponsorship to the #63 MB Motorsports
ride, allowing him to run the full season, but that never came to happen.
For 2008 and 2009, Mickel raced in selected rounds of the UK Pickup Truck Racing
series. He ran the multi-race winning truck of Paul Poulter
but with a different engine.
On January 31, 2010, Mickel won the inaugural ASA Transcontinental Series Free State 500 at Phakisa Freeway near Welkom, South Africa in a Chevrolet Monte Carlo, having qualified fourth for the 207-lap 500-km race. He took the lead on the last lap after a close and clean race.
In March 2010, Mickel (as Mickel Motorsport) started the 2010 UK CPC Legends Cars season in car #4, also running car #14 (the CPC sponsored car, driven by Paul Musselle) and car #39 (driven by Jess Gwynne).
! colspan="3" style="background: #99ff66;" | Sporting achievements
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...
Craftsman Truck Series
Craftsman Truck Series
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is a pickup truck racing series owned and operated by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing...
and Pickup Truck Racing
Pickup Truck Racing
Pickup Truck Racing is a single make series, and the trucks are governed by the Pickup Truck Racing regulations,. The chassis is made by , who are also responsible for the vehicle used in T Cars, a series for young drivers....
with TorqueSpeed. He was also a commentator for Sky Sports
Sky Sports
Sky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
' coverage of NASCAR racing through 2008-9.
Career
Mickel, a second-generation driver, began racing at the age of ten in Ministox and won his first championship two years later. He soon moved to SuperstoxSuperstox
Superstox is a type of single seat formula racing, similar to Sprint car racing developed in the 1960s in the United Kingdom.Its original routes come from the mid-1950's where it derived from BriSCA Formula One Stock Car Racing, where a smaller junior forumula was crated and raced at the Southern...
where he was named both World and European champion. He joined the SCSA-Europe tour in its inaugural year in 2001, where he won the series' first championship.
In 2002, he began racing part-time in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. After failing to qualify for two races in the Craftsman Truck Series, he began racing in the 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...
in 2004. He also planned to drive the 66 car part-time for Travis Carter Motorsports
Travis Carter Motorsports
Haas-Carter Motorsports is a former NASCAR and USAR Pro Cup team. It was mostly owned by former crew chief Travis Carter and Carl Haas. The team previously fielded entries in the Winston Cup Series before closing...
in the 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...
Series that season, but the deal fell through. In 2005, he made his NASCAR debut in the Truck Series at Texas Motor Speedway
Texas Motor Speedway
Texas Motor Speedway is a speedway located in the northernmost portion of the U.S. city of Fort Worth, Texas – the portion located in Denton County, Texas....
, driving the #4 Dodge Ram
Dodge Ram
The Dodge Ram is a full-size pickup truck manufactured by the Chrysler Group LLC. As of late 2010, it has been sold under the Ram Trucks brand. Previously, Ram was part of the Dodge lineup of light trucks...
for Bobby Hamilton Racing
Bobby Hamilton Racing
Bobby Hamilton Racing-Virginia was a former NASCAR racing team. It was owned by four-time NEXTEL Cup winner and 2004 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Bobby Hamilton until his death on January 7, 2007. Bobby Hamilton, Jr. was given ownership after the death of his father, but the younger...
, starting 35th and finishing 29th. The next season, he ran the final five races of the Truck Series schedule leasing owner's points and equipment from the #07 Green Light Racing
Green Light Racing
SS-Green Light Racing is a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team. Owned and operated by businessmen Ken Smith and Steve Urvan and former driver Bobby Dotter, the team fields the #07 Toyota Tundra for several drivers and the #81 Zachry Industrial, Inc. Toyota for David Starr...
Chevrolet. His best finish was 20th at Atlanta Motor Speedway
Atlanta Motor Speedway
Atlanta Motor Speedway is a track just outside Hampton, Georgia, twenty miles south of Atlanta. It is a quad-oval track with a seating capacity of over 125,000. It opened in 1960 as a standard oval. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track...
.
He was scheduled to run with Green Light full-time in 2007, but instead Tim Sauter
Tim Sauter
Tim Sauter is an American race car driver. He has competed in the American Speed Association, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, the NASCAR Busch Series, and the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. He is the son of Jim Sauter, and the brother of NASCAR drivers Jay and Johnny Sauter.Sauter made his NASCAR...
got the ride. During testing at Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, one of the most prestigious races in NASCAR. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, Grand-Am and Motocross...
, Speed Channel
SPEED Channel
Speed , is a cable and satellite television network broadcast to various parts of North America, but primarily the United States...
had reported that Mickel will bring sponsorship to the #63 MB Motorsports
MB Motorsports
MB Motorsports is a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series team based in Foristell, Missouri owned by Mike Mittler. The team is one of few to field entries every year since the Series' inception in 1995...
ride, allowing him to run the full season, but that never came to happen.
For 2008 and 2009, Mickel raced in selected rounds of the UK Pickup Truck Racing
Pickup Truck Racing
Pickup Truck Racing is a single make series, and the trucks are governed by the Pickup Truck Racing regulations,. The chassis is made by , who are also responsible for the vehicle used in T Cars, a series for young drivers....
series. He ran the multi-race winning truck of Paul Poulter
Paul Poulter
Paul Poulter is a racing driver. He has raced the #74 pickup since 2005 in the UK Pickup Truck Racing series. In 2008, he signed a contract to drive the #40 Chevrolet Silverado in the Craftsman Truck Series for Key Motorsports, making his debut on 20 June 2008 at the Milwaukee Mile.Poulter was the...
but with a different engine.
On January 31, 2010, Mickel won the inaugural ASA Transcontinental Series Free State 500 at Phakisa Freeway near Welkom, South Africa in a Chevrolet Monte Carlo, having qualified fourth for the 207-lap 500-km race. He took the lead on the last lap after a close and clean race.
In March 2010, Mickel (as Mickel Motorsport) started the 2010 UK CPC Legends Cars season in car #4, also running car #14 (the CPC sponsored car, driven by Paul Musselle) and car #39 (driven by Jess Gwynne).
Career history
- 2011 Legends Racing UK
- 2010 CPC Legends Racing UK - 4th Placed Overall
- 2006 NASCAR Craftsman Truck SS-Green Light Racing
- 2005 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Atlanta Motorspeedway Texas Motorway Speedway
- 2004 ASA races Charlotte & Atlanta Raced British built SCSA car (shipped from the UK)
- 2001-2006 SCSA-Europe Inaugural Champion in 2001
- 1999-2001 Legends Car Championships Champion - World and British Legends Cars Champion - World Series Legends Cars World Legends Champion (Sears Point, CA)
External links
- Driver Profile at Mickel Motorsport
- Driver Profile at TorqueSpeed
- Career Statistics at Racing-Reference.info
! colspan="3" style="background: #99ff66;" | Sporting achievements