University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
True Friend of the Bulldogs Mike Burke Sets Sights on Racing for a National Championship
09.18.2017 | General
INDIANAPOLIS – The Bulldogs are always competing for championships, and one huge friend of UNC Asheville athletics will soon be competing for one on Oct. 1 as well.
A longtime resident of greater Detroit, Mike Burke moved to the Asheville area after concluding his career working for Chrysler.
Since his arrival, Burke has become a huge supporter of all things UNC Asheville, and currently he helps the athletics department by serving on the BAA Board and the Branding, Communications and Marketing Committee.
His work with the BAA Board and the Branding, Marketing and Communications Committee are just small examples of the numerous ways he helps the university as Burke can almost always be found supporting the Bulldogs during home and away events.
Burke's passion for the Bulldogs is going to be more than evident on Oct. 1 as he competes for a National Championship at the "Racing Capital of the World" at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The winner-take-all Sports Car Club of America 2017 National Championship Runoffs in Indianapolis will consist of 19-lap or 40-minute races on a 15-turn, 2.592-mile road course at the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The course layout consists of 10 right-hand and five left-hand turns as well as a main straight that is 3,700-feet long. The configuration includes portions of the track previously used by Formula One for the United States Grand Prix and currently used by the Verizon IndyCar Series for the INDYCAR Grand Prix.
Burke will take part in the prestigious event in a Bulldog inspired 2016 Mazda Miata that is nicknamed "Rocky II" after UNC Asheville's beloved mascot, Rocky. Burke previously raced in a 2009 Mazda Miata that served as "Rocky I."
"Rocky II" is housed in Columbia, S.C., and the new Miata was just finished on Thursday, Sept. 14, so Burke could compete in the event. Burke will begin tests for the National Championships Runoffs on Tuesday, Sept. 19, at the Virginia International Raceway. He will leave with "Rocky II" for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday, Sept. 23.
"Over the years through the myriad of successes and difficulties, motorsports has helped me understand as well as greatly value being a team member, no matter what the role," Burke said. "Characteristics such as total honesty, the unselfish willingness to share parts, track space, provisions, information and knowledge (even sometimes bluntly), dependability, etc. are critical to ensure the long range success of any team. That painfully learned philosophy helped me have a productive and somewhat lucrative work career and certainly has helped produce many enjoyable racing results and experiences."
All of those lessons and so much more are why Burke is so proud of the relationships he has formed at UNC Asheville.
"Similarly, adopting such attitudes and actions in my opinion seem to facilitate enjoyable and rewarding relationships and successes inherent with my volunteer activities involving Bulldog student-athletes, coaches, staff and fellow volunteers," Burke said.
UNC Asheville Senior Administrator for University Enterprises and Director of Athletics Janet R. Cone loves that instead of Burke cheering for the Bulldogs that this now gives Asheville fans the opportunity to cheer for Burke.
"Mike Burke means so much to what we do here with UNC Asheville athletics," Cone said. "He is always willing to help out in any way that he is needed and I am so thankful that I get the opportunity to cheer for him as he goes for a National Championship."
A longtime resident of greater Detroit, Mike Burke moved to the Asheville area after concluding his career working for Chrysler.
Since his arrival, Burke has become a huge supporter of all things UNC Asheville, and currently he helps the athletics department by serving on the BAA Board and the Branding, Communications and Marketing Committee.
His work with the BAA Board and the Branding, Marketing and Communications Committee are just small examples of the numerous ways he helps the university as Burke can almost always be found supporting the Bulldogs during home and away events.
Burke's passion for the Bulldogs is going to be more than evident on Oct. 1 as he competes for a National Championship at the "Racing Capital of the World" at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The winner-take-all Sports Car Club of America 2017 National Championship Runoffs in Indianapolis will consist of 19-lap or 40-minute races on a 15-turn, 2.592-mile road course at the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The course layout consists of 10 right-hand and five left-hand turns as well as a main straight that is 3,700-feet long. The configuration includes portions of the track previously used by Formula One for the United States Grand Prix and currently used by the Verizon IndyCar Series for the INDYCAR Grand Prix.
Burke will take part in the prestigious event in a Bulldog inspired 2016 Mazda Miata that is nicknamed "Rocky II" after UNC Asheville's beloved mascot, Rocky. Burke previously raced in a 2009 Mazda Miata that served as "Rocky I."
"Rocky II" is housed in Columbia, S.C., and the new Miata was just finished on Thursday, Sept. 14, so Burke could compete in the event. Burke will begin tests for the National Championships Runoffs on Tuesday, Sept. 19, at the Virginia International Raceway. He will leave with "Rocky II" for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday, Sept. 23.
"Over the years through the myriad of successes and difficulties, motorsports has helped me understand as well as greatly value being a team member, no matter what the role," Burke said. "Characteristics such as total honesty, the unselfish willingness to share parts, track space, provisions, information and knowledge (even sometimes bluntly), dependability, etc. are critical to ensure the long range success of any team. That painfully learned philosophy helped me have a productive and somewhat lucrative work career and certainly has helped produce many enjoyable racing results and experiences."
All of those lessons and so much more are why Burke is so proud of the relationships he has formed at UNC Asheville.
"Similarly, adopting such attitudes and actions in my opinion seem to facilitate enjoyable and rewarding relationships and successes inherent with my volunteer activities involving Bulldog student-athletes, coaches, staff and fellow volunteers," Burke said.
UNC Asheville Senior Administrator for University Enterprises and Director of Athletics Janet R. Cone loves that instead of Burke cheering for the Bulldogs that this now gives Asheville fans the opportunity to cheer for Burke.
"Mike Burke means so much to what we do here with UNC Asheville athletics," Cone said. "He is always willing to help out in any way that he is needed and I am so thankful that I get the opportunity to cheer for him as he goes for a National Championship."
Thursday, June 18
Wednesday, March 18
Wednesday, March 11
Friday, February 06