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[/media-credit]Earlier this week, Mikey Kile announced that he would be driving at least seven races for Turner Motorsports this year in the Nationwide Series.
Kile ran the entire ARCA Racing Series schedule last year with Venturini Motorsports, scoring his first win at Michigan, along with two pole awards, seven top fives and 15 top-10 finishes.
He got started in racing by racing go-karts at a young age. Since then he has moved up the ranks, having success at various levels. Career highlights include four carting championships, eight IMCA modified wins and 2008 USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series Rookie of the Year. He also has experience in the Camping World Truck Series with Brad Keselowski Racing. In six starts, he has scored three top-15 finishes.
Kile took some time out of his schedule to discuss the new deal and more.
Ashley McCubbin: What are some of your thoughts on the announcement?
Mikey Kile: I think its exciting. It’s a great opportunity for me to perform really well this year and Steve Turner has the right people in place and he’s doing everything the right way. I’m really looking forward to driving their car this year and putting on a good performance everywhere we run this year.
AM: Speaking of Turner having the right people, what are some of your thoughts on working with some of your fellow teammates?
MK: All the drivers are really good racecar drivers. I’m really looking forward to that. Kasey Kahne, Mark Martin – there’s a lot of experience there in these Nationwide cars. It’s really going to help me out a lot in the Nationwide Series to have someone to lean on like that if I’m having trouble with something. Then you have all the people within the team to lean on in the organization.
AM: How do you think your previous experience in the ARCA Series will help you?
MK: I would say the ARCA car has a little more horsepower and a little faster, but overall its seat time and being to some of the race tracks with the ARCA car, so in the Nationwide car, I think that’s going to be a huge advantage for me. I learned a lot there about aero and how to race cars side-by-side and what the air does to the car when you’re side-by-side and everything.
AM: What are some of your expectations?
MK: I would say the equipment is some of the best in the series and I am expecting the top 10. I think we can run up front and you may have bad luck here and there and that may push you back, but I think I running in the top 10 is not out of the question.
AM: What are some of your long-term goals?
MK: In five years, hopefully in Cup. That’s everybody’s ultimate goal. I want to be able to pay my bills while driving racecars cause that’s what I like to do. I can run a part-time schedule this year and the full-time schedule next year with Turner Motorsports and that’s what I’d like to do. I’m just looking to make a good living and be happy with what I love to do.
AM: What is your first Racing Memory?
MK: Probably when I was racing go-karts when I won a National championship in 1996.
AM: What is your most memorable Racing Moment?
MK: At Michigan last year – I would say that’s the biggest win of my career – in ARCA. In 2010 in June, winning the race at Michigan and leading a bunch of laps at Pocono and just running upfront. Mainly, winning the race at Michigan is the best moment so far.
