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Last update: Thursday, November 05, 2009
JOHN MICKEL TO REPRESENT THE UNITED KINGDOM AT THE ASA FREE STATE 500 SOUTH AFRICA EVENT
DAYTONA BEACH, FL (Wednesday, November 4, 2009) - The upcoming American Speed
Association Transcontinental Series Free State 500 at the Phakisa Freeway
Circuit in Welkom, South Africa on Sunday, January 31, 2010 will be a true
international competition. John Mickel, a champion driver from Cambridge,
UK has accepted his invitation to compete in the inaugural event.
"I felt very privileged to receive a phone call from Dennis Huth asking me
to race in such a prestigious event," Mickel said about receiving an
invitation from the ASA President. "As a racing driver, I love to
get behind the wheel whenever I can but it is even more exciting to be involved
in an international motorsport contest especially as it will be the first ever
ASA race to venture outside North America. Having been involved in the first
ever race in SCSA when it was launched in Europe, I have an understanding of
how exciting and important an event like this can be to the drivers, locals,
businesses and authorities and most of all showing the fans how thrilling oval
racing can be."
Mickel was the first SCSA (Stock Car Speed Association) champion in 2001 and in
2002 he ventured over to the United States to try his hand at American stock
car racing. In 2004, he competed in the American Speed Association
National Series events at Charlotte and Atlanta where he finished on the lead
lap in both events. Mickel said that the SCSA was a European version of ASA
when it was launched in 2001, "We were hopeful that it could become the
European stepping stone to oval racing in the US. During the years that we ran
in the SCSA Championship, we had many victories including the inaugural
Championship title. This put us in a great position to place our experience in
the States. I was involved in SCSA from the very beginning and I helped coach
the European drivers through what we called "Rookie Training." I hope
that all the South African drivers enjoy the experience and I wish them every
success in becoming familiar with racing on super speedways."
In 2005, he made his debut in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at Texas
Motor Speedway driving for Bobby Hamilton Racing. Since that time, he has
made six other starts with the last coming in 2008 at Lowe's Motor
Speedway. "The experience we gained from working with teams in the
US was invaluable and it created a platform for us to build upon," Mickel
said. "I loved every second of it and it makes me hungry for more involvement
and our plan is to do a full season in NASCAR."
That hunger has been well noticed by famous car owner Dick Midgley.
Midgley is very familiar with taking American stock car racing overseas has he
has ventured with Dennis Huth to past events in Australia and Japan along with
preparing Trucks in the past for Mickel. He is excited to be preparing a
car for Mickel for the ASA Free State 500. "He can definitely drive, he
has the experience and he has plenty of seat time in a car," Midgley
said. "The thing that really stands out is that he has the
desire. I really like his attitude and I think he can get the job
done. I know that John would like to come back and do more ASA racing in
the United States."
"John will be a very valuable asset for our event," Dennis Huth, ASA
President said. "Not only with his talent behind the wheel but with
his coaching experience to young European drivers, the South African drivers
will learn a lot from him as well as he will take away a lot as well from this
adventure. He also has experience as a television commentator in auto
racing, so he will be a great communicator with the world media covering this
event."
Most of Mickel's experience has come on oval tracks in Europe, "Oval
racing in the UK is becoming more popular thanks to the live coverage of NASCAR
on Sky Sports television. Small oval racing has always been popular amongst
drivers here, which is where my racing experience comes from, however it would
be good to see far more speedways in the UK," Mickel explained.
"The European super speedways are less banked than many in the US. The
European tracks are much like Indianapolis or Pocono. The typical US super
speedways such as Charlotte and Atlanta have much steeper banking making them
much faster tracks. But nothing can compare to the US fan base in
motorsport where the whole family follows the season and sets up a home at each
track with their barbecues and beers."
"This event is set to be a 'Championship Between the Continents' and the
South African Government wants to make it one of the premier motorsport events
in the world," Mickel exclaimed. "I am looking forward to
working with the South African drivers and exchanging knowledge and experience
with them and I am very hopeful that I will have a chance to explore a
beautiful country. On track, I will be giving 100%."
You can learn more about John Mickel by either visiting www.johnmickel.com or
www.torquespeed.com.
The American drivers invited will not only get a chance to compete on one of
the finest racetracks outside of the United States, but will enjoy many
off-track opportunities to see the various sights of South Africa; this
includes a private tour of "Savannah" the wildlife preserve that
holds the distinction of being just one of three accredited worldwide breeders
of the Cheetah.
To learn more about Phakisa Freeway, visit www.phakisa.com.
To learn more of the Daytona Beach, Fla.-based American Speed Association call
(386) 258-2221 or send an e-mail to info@asa-racing.com. For news and information
from all the racetracks and regional tours involved in the ASA, visit
www.ASA-Racing.com.
ASA™, ASA Racing™ American Speed Association® are trademarks of Racing
Speed Associates, LLC. ASA International, LLC or Racing Speed Associates, LLC
are not related to or affiliated with ASA Late Model Series, LLC.