Carmichael Jumps From Two Wheels to Four
Ricky Carmichael has traded in his astounding, record 144-win two-wheel career for a roll cage and twice the tire count making the switch from Supercross motorcycle competition to becoming the latest stock car development driver for MB2 Motorsports, which runs Chevrolet products in multiple NASCAR series.
Carmichael, a 15-time American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) national champion, was at the NASCAR races in Phoenix this past weekend to soak in all the atmosphere he could. He is close friends with Chevy driver Clint Bowyer, who is his NASACR role model, and he’ll lean heavily on incoming stock car legend Mark Martin to learn more tools of the trade.
Following are selected excerpts of a Q&A session with Carmichael:
ON TIMING OF LEAVING MOTORCYCLE RACING:
"I have had a great career and accomplished so much, but when it is your time, it’s your time. I feel like I have done enough in that industry, I don't need to prove anything. I am very happy and excited about having a new challenge."
THOUGHTS ON NASCAR COMPETITORS AND HOW RACING BACKGROUND WILL HELP IN LEARNING TO COMPETE:
"I have a lot of respect for them to start with. It is the greatest sport in the world. It is where motocross wants to be but obviously we have a long way to go to do that. I am just happy and thankful for the opportunity that I have. It is a great sport and I am going to try to do everything I can to be like these guys. I am just happy to finally be in it."
ON NASCAR TIME TABLE:
"December I will start testing down in Florida running some of Mark Martin's late models. Then up in Charlotte with an MB2 race car. It is going to be a long process and try to make it the right process."
ON HAVING MARK MARTIN AS A MENTOR AND INSTRUCTOR:
"It is going to be a huge advantage. I can't believe it. It was icing on the cake when I heard he was coming. I had actually already signed my deal and they said he was coming in. They (MB2 Motorsports) did a good job of keeping it secret. It just made my decision that much better."
ON BIGGEST THING NEEDED TO GET READY FOR NASCAR:
"I need to get behind the wheel. I lack a lot of seat time. These guys told me they can teach me. One thing I have is that racing mentality and hopefully I can put it to work. I have a great opportunity. I am just going to try and make the best of it."
ON USING MOTORCYCLE SKILLS IN NASCAR:
"In this you have to have a little more patience. I am looking forward to getting rid of some of that motorcycle mentality. I have hung my neck out enough and I am looking forward to getting to where I don't have to do that."
ON WHY GOING TO STOCK CAR RACING:
"You know what, I think just because it is a racing sport. I really like the level of safety that NASCAR brings. I like what they are all about. I like how they promote their sport. That is really why I like it, and because it is racing."
ON PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE FOR 2007:
"I have to do 15 stock car races next year. That is my plan next year; 25 the following year and then a full series hopefully after that. I have a three-year deal. It is a long process. I don't know which ones yet. I am going to do 15 motorcycle races and 15 stock car races so I think it is a good story. We are juggling a lot of stuff, but fun at the same time. "
ON BEST KNOWN MOVE ON MOTORCYCLE:
"Well, I am known for my "Whip" as they call it. That is where you the bike perfectly horizontal, very flat, that is my best trick. But as I get older, it seems to get a little bit harder. I know you guys are laughing, but 27 is old for our sport. I have had a 10-year career. I have been very fortunate and very happy, but it has been tough. I feel a lot older than I really am."
ON BEING A NASCAR FAN:
"I have been a real fan for about four or five years now, like a serious fan. I grew up with my Dad always watching and my Grandpa raced a lot. Ever since Clint Bowyer signed his deal with Richard Childress, that is when I kinda got in to it. He is a life-long friend of mine, we are great friends. Our families are great friends. So when he started doing it, I had someone to watch. Now I have just grown to love the sport.
"I met Clint through his brother who raced motorcycles. His brother was really good. We went to a race a long time ago and ended up parking next to them and became friends. He used to race motocross and got to be 15 and said 'man, I am going to try racing cars'. I just watched him work his way up through the ranks. It has been fun. He always helped me out if I need some advice. I have also gotten to be good friends with Kasey Kahne, which has been good. Clint is a lifelong friend and will be to the end. He is really the reason I got so involved is because I had someone to watch, talk to and guide me."
Ricky Carmichael has traded in his astounding, record 144-win two-wheel career for a roll cage and twice the tire count making the switch from Supercross motorcycle competition to becoming the latest stock car development driver for MB2 Motorsports, which runs Chevrolet products in multiple NASCAR series.
Carmichael, a 15-time American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) national champion, was at the NASCAR races in Phoenix this past weekend to soak in all the atmosphere he could. He is close friends with Chevy driver Clint Bowyer, who is his NASACR role model, and he’ll lean heavily on incoming stock car legend Mark Martin to learn more tools of the trade.
Following are selected excerpts of a Q&A session with Carmichael:
ON TIMING OF LEAVING MOTORCYCLE RACING:
"I have had a great career and accomplished so much, but when it is your time, it’s your time. I feel like I have done enough in that industry, I don't need to prove anything. I am very happy and excited about having a new challenge."
THOUGHTS ON NASCAR COMPETITORS AND HOW RACING BACKGROUND WILL HELP IN LEARNING TO COMPETE:
"I have a lot of respect for them to start with. It is the greatest sport in the world. It is where motocross wants to be but obviously we have a long way to go to do that. I am just happy and thankful for the opportunity that I have. It is a great sport and I am going to try to do everything I can to be like these guys. I am just happy to finally be in it."
ON NASCAR TIME TABLE:
"December I will start testing down in Florida running some of Mark Martin's late models. Then up in Charlotte with an MB2 race car. It is going to be a long process and try to make it the right process."
ON HAVING MARK MARTIN AS A MENTOR AND INSTRUCTOR:
"It is going to be a huge advantage. I can't believe it. It was icing on the cake when I heard he was coming. I had actually already signed my deal and they said he was coming in. They (MB2 Motorsports) did a good job of keeping it secret. It just made my decision that much better."
ON BIGGEST THING NEEDED TO GET READY FOR NASCAR:
"I need to get behind the wheel. I lack a lot of seat time. These guys told me they can teach me. One thing I have is that racing mentality and hopefully I can put it to work. I have a great opportunity. I am just going to try and make the best of it."
ON USING MOTORCYCLE SKILLS IN NASCAR:
"In this you have to have a little more patience. I am looking forward to getting rid of some of that motorcycle mentality. I have hung my neck out enough and I am looking forward to getting to where I don't have to do that."
ON WHY GOING TO STOCK CAR RACING:
"You know what, I think just because it is a racing sport. I really like the level of safety that NASCAR brings. I like what they are all about. I like how they promote their sport. That is really why I like it, and because it is racing."
ON PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE FOR 2007:
"I have to do 15 stock car races next year. That is my plan next year; 25 the following year and then a full series hopefully after that. I have a three-year deal. It is a long process. I don't know which ones yet. I am going to do 15 motorcycle races and 15 stock car races so I think it is a good story. We are juggling a lot of stuff, but fun at the same time. "
ON BEST KNOWN MOVE ON MOTORCYCLE:
"Well, I am known for my "Whip" as they call it. That is where you the bike perfectly horizontal, very flat, that is my best trick. But as I get older, it seems to get a little bit harder. I know you guys are laughing, but 27 is old for our sport. I have had a 10-year career. I have been very fortunate and very happy, but it has been tough. I feel a lot older than I really am."
ON BEING A NASCAR FAN:
"I have been a real fan for about four or five years now, like a serious fan. I grew up with my Dad always watching and my Grandpa raced a lot. Ever since Clint Bowyer signed his deal with Richard Childress, that is when I kinda got in to it. He is a life-long friend of mine, we are great friends. Our families are great friends. So when he started doing it, I had someone to watch. Now I have just grown to love the sport.
"I met Clint through his brother who raced motorcycles. His brother was really good. We went to a race a long time ago and ended up parking next to them and became friends. He used to race motocross and got to be 15 and said 'man, I am going to try racing cars'. I just watched him work his way up through the ranks. It has been fun. He always helped me out if I need some advice. I have also gotten to be good friends with Kasey Kahne, which has been good. Clint is a lifelong friend and will be to the end. He is really the reason I got so involved is because I had someone to watch, talk to and guide me."
© Copyright 2006 MotorsportToday.com
