Sky Sports NASCAR Commentator Returns to Drivers Seat with SS Green Light Racing

John Mickel will step away from his Sky Sports job as a NASCAR Commentator and return to the driver's seat.  Mickel will pilot the #07 Torquespeed / SS Green Light Racing Chevy for the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Lowes Motor Speedway on May 16th.  Mickel has six-starts in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and experience in the former American Speed Association (ASA).  He is also a color commentator for Sky Sports, the dominant subscription television sports brand in the "United Kingdom" and "Republic of Ireland" Ireland, which broadcast live NASCAR Sprint Cup Races.   

Mickel finished his commentating coverage of Saturday nights Richmond Sprint Cup race in the early morning hours this past Sunday (due to time difference in UK) and then headed directly to the airport and flew to the SS Green Light Race Shop in Mooresville, North Carolina. 

"I'm excited to be back racing in the truck series," said Mickel, the Cambridge England born driver.  "I'm really looking forward to racing at Charlotte again.  Although I've never raced in the truck series there, I raced an ASA race at Lowes and really liked the track.  It's similar to other tracks I've raced in the trucks, which is why we picked this event.  I hope to have a good showing and build some momentum for future races."

What was once deemed a southern (United States) sport, NASCAR has grown tremendously to gain fan popularity across the world.  Proof of that growth is in the influx of foreign NASCAR Drivers, but also in the fan base.  Mickel is hoping to make the NASCAR Truck Series his full time 'racing' home. 

"The truck series is the next logical step for my career, but it also brings a great value to sponsors," said Mickel.  "We want to build our future in this series and are seeking marketing partners for 2009.  There are a lot of NASCAR fans in the UK and the numbers continue to grow.  We can provide a solid opportunity for a sponsor to get involved with an English NASCAR driver and can take their exposure to a greater reach in both the UK and America."   

John Mickel was born with oval racing in his blood. His father competed in local stock car events then introduced young John to Mini Stocks, where he ran on quarter mile ovals at just 10-years old.  His love for speed became more pronounced as he started to take podium finishes in everything he raced. Mickel became a multi champion before the age of 12 on short ovals. Before the age of 19, Mickel had become a World and European Champion.  In 2001, a 1.5 mile oval was built at Rockingham UK and in Lausitz Germany a 2 mile oval, which brought the NASCAR style of motorsports to Europe.  From that point forward John Mickel along with the support of his wife-Lisa and two young daughters, has set his sights on a NASCAR career.