In 2005, Pickens competed at the Chili Bowlmidget car race at Tulsa, Oklahoma. He won Rookie of the Year honors with an outstanding drive from 19th starting position to a race ending 6th-place finish. He was noticed by some key people at NASCAR NEXTEL Cup's Roush Racing. While not having prior experience on pavement, as there are no pavement ovals in New Zealand, Pickens did compete in the Roush's Driver Development Competition Program in 2005. He made it to the final round of competition and was the last driver be cut. In 2005, Pickens won the 55th running of the Australian Speedcar Grand Prix held at the Avalon Raceway in Victoria. That year he also finished second in the Australian Speedcar Championship at the Perth Motorplex. He would later finish 3rd in the 2011 Australian Championship in Lismore, New South Wales. In 2016 Michael won the Australian Speedcar title at Paramatta Raceway. Michael's regular rides in New Zealand are his own #1NZ Midget and the Pipeline Industries #3NZ Sprint car. Michael's regular Australian drive is with Brett Morris, competing in the Australian Speedcar Championship and the World Midget Series. Michael also drives in the USA, competing at Midget Week, the Turkey Night Grand Prix and Chili Bowl Nationals. In the middle of the 2007 U.S. season, he raced for Ken Hendricks' American Speed Association Late Model Team, Urban Force Racing, mainly at Madison International Speedway. He left the team in July near the middle of the season, and began running a mixture of midget and pavement car races for various owners. In the 2008 U.S. racing season, he raced a midget car weekly at Angell Park Speedway and the #30 car in ASA Late Model Series events.
Career Highlights
2016 Australian Speedcar Champion 2015/16 International Midget Series Overall Winner 8 times New Zealand Midget Champion Multiple winged sprint car feature wins Multiple track and lap records Multiple National Series Championship wins Multiple A-main wins including 9 consecutive A-main wins in a row 4 times New Zealand midget Grand Prix win 2 times North Island champion 5 times Barry Butterworth 40 lap winner Multiple International Series wins over 30, 40 and 50 laps Multiple seasons as International Test Team Captain Multiple Herman Tros shield wins Multiple USAC/POWRi/Badger feature wins 6 times Chili Bowl A-main qualifier 3rd 2011 Chili Bowl A-main UMRA TQ feature winner 2 times Australian Super Series speedcar Championship winner Australian Grand Prix winner ASA Pavement Late Model Series feature and pole winner NASCAR Craftsman Truck Driver X finalist
