Earlham College | News from Public Affairs

Mike Kitchel '01 is director of public and media relations for Panther Racing. He also serves on the pit crew for Vitor Meira's No. 4 Delphi machine.

RICHMOND, Ind. — Mike Kitchel '01 grew up with dreams of competing in the Super Bowl, but his life currently centers around another of America's great sporting events — the Indianapolis 500.

The former English major and football player at Earlham is now director of public and media relations for Panther Racing. The organization has three teams in the 33-car field for the May 27 race with drivers Vitor Meira, Kosuke Matsuura and the recently added John Andretti.

Kitchel was hired to be part of the Panther's public relations department in 2003 with the responsibility of working with the organization's second driver.

"In the middle of 2004, the job expanded to working on the Web site and with all of the drivers," said the 27-year-old native of Centerville, Ind. "Now, I'm completely responsible for the drivers' schedules and everything they do outside of a race car.

"During the races I work on Meira's pit crew, assisting with the left rear tire," he said. "I equate it to when I was a holder on the field goal team in football. You don't get noticed … unless you mess up."

Upon graduation in 2001, Kitchel wasn't sure what direction his life would take. He had a simple thought: "I'm a writer and a communicator, but how is this going to apply to my career and what am I going to do next?

"Motor sports could not have been further from my radar," he said. "I was a football player for as long as I could remember. I loved playing and I loved writing. My goal was to get into a position where I could do those two things"

Earlham's Most Valuable Player for the 2000 football season, Kitchel knew his best opportunity to reach the pinnacle of his college sport would be as a writer. "My preference at that time was to work for a newspaper as a pro football columnist," he said.

The journey began with a few months as a sports stringer for the Palladium-Item, Richmond's local newspaper. Then there was nearly a year in New York City. He hoped for a break in acting after participating in theatre at Earlham. "It worked out so well that I wound up in Portland. Ind.," Kitchel said with a laugh.

While working as an education reporter at a newspaper in Portland, Kitchel had an opportunity to cover the Indy 500 for The Commercial Review's sports department.

"In 2003, I had credentials at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway," he said. "Being on the track during the pre-race ceremonies was one of those moments that made me want to be a part of racing."

While covering the race, Kitchel reunited with the father of an Earlham classmate, Samantha Barnes '01. "I had met Samantha's dad while we were in school, and I knew he worked for a motor sports team," Kitchel said. "I did not understand that he was one of the most respected individuals in racing."

Kitchel soon realized that his friend's father was John Barnes, one of the owners of Panther Racing — the organization that captured the Indy Racing League championship in 2001 and 2002. "Luckily for me, they were expanding from a one-car team to two cars," he said.

Kitchel joined Panther Racing in December 2003. "As a journalist you are around sports and you are writing about them, but you're not part of it," he said. "I wanted to be on a team."

"I owe so much to Earlham College, the football program and the English department," Kitchel said. "(Former Earlham Head Coach) Frank Carr and (current mentor) Gerry Keesling, along with (Professor of English) Mary Lacey were the three people that gave me confidence."

Carr isn't shocked by Kitchel's success, but seeing him working in the pits at the Indy 500 was not what he expected. "I'm not surprised that Mike is doing well in the auto racing world because he has the personality and work ethic to adapt to any situation and succeed."

"That was no more evident than in his shift from quarterback to receiver, while playing football at Earlham," Carr continued."In his new role, he performed as a seasoned veteran, was very competitive and continued to be a team leader."

Lacey was one of Kitchel's favorite professors at Earlham. "Mike is a great example of the best kind of Earlham student," she said. "He was an athlete, a musician, a genuinely funny guy, an earnest and dedicated student, a colleague and role model for other students. He is a small-town kid with all the best small-town values, but also someone who was clearly ready to be a citizen of the world, able to talk to anyone about anything."

During his time in racing, Kitchel has dealt with drivers from all over the world. Earlham's appreciation and understanding of cultural differences is important. "It's been a tremendous help in working with all of the guys," Kitchel said.

"Mike is the shield," said Meira, a Brazilian driving the No. 4 Delphi machine. In 2005, he finished second in the Indy 500.

"He was the first guy that I built a close relationship with on the team. He's more of a friend," Meira said. "He understands the priorities and puts my schedule in a form that leaves me an hour or two for me to myself before races so I can relax."

In just a few days, Kitchel, Meira and the rest of Panther Racing won't be relaxing as the team competes in "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing."

Contact:
Don Tincher, sports information director
765/983-1795 — E-Mail Don