On the heels of three straight million-dollar seasons, driver Mitchell Cushing has embarked on a westward journey — one he hopes can help him reach the next stage of his fledgling career.

Cushing, a 23-year-old Michigan native who began driving for his dad, Ron, at fairs in Maine — where the Cushing family name is part of harness racing's fabric — has been plying his trade in Ohio for the past three months after competing primarily in Maine and at Planridge Park and Saratoga Casino Hotel since gaining his full license. While Cushing did develop into one of the most sought after drivers in New England, a simple phone call to order a race bike from Ohio horseman Chad Foulk turned into the impetus for Cushing's move to the Buckeye State.

“Chad and I just got to talking,” Cushing said in a recent profile from the United States Trotting Association. “It really was nothing I had planned. He had mentioned to me coming out and wanting to try it out, and if I wanted to stay, he could offer me what he has for a sires stakes barn, so that was a pretty good offer.”

In addition to Foulk's stable, Cushing reconnected with trainer Mike Hitchcock, for whom he drove early in his career.

“I grew up driving for Mike Hitchcock ever since I was 19, and he had moved out there,” Cushing continued. “I gave him a call and told him my conversation with Chad. Mike said, ‘Just tell me when you’re coming, we’ll get you set up, we’ll go from there. We’ll put you on the horses and we’ll get rolling.’”

So far, Cushing has won 10 of his 126 starts this year and his drives have earned $104,622. And while he achieved respectable success at his east coast base, winning 617 races and earning $4.5 million in purses over the last three seasons, the long commutes to chase one or two odd drives are something he won't miss.

“I was living in Saratoga and driving 2-1/2 hours to go to Plainridge, which I made a good living at,” Cushing said. “Then I would drive three hours to Freehold on the weekend, and from Freehold, work my way to The Meadowlands and go home from there.

“Now, no matter when I get in the car, unless I were to go to Northfield or The Meadows, I’m driving 75 miles,” citing the drive from Grove City, Ohio, to Miami Valley Raceway and the even shorter trip to Eldorado Scioto Downs, which opens later in the spring. “So, in that way, it’s a breath of fresh air. It’s a quick drive, you’re racing for one of the best purse structures in the country, and you’re racing 14 or 15 races a day.”

Mitchell Cushing, pictured winning at Miami Valley Raceway with Better Days Ahead, is settling into his new surroundings in Ohio.

In the past three months, Cushing hasn't quite gotten to nearly the start he had hoped, but he's optimistic that opportunities will pick up for him when many of the Midwest's top drivers return to Harrah's Hoosier Park later in the month.

“In a competitive sense, I wish it would be a little better, but I can’t complain with how it’s going,” he said. “I can’t complain, I’m getting some work, I’m doing well enough with what I have. Hitchcock’s horses are doing very well, I’m fortunate to get started with him.”

“It’ll be nice when Indiana opens up,” Cushing said. “Hopefully, things pick up a little more. You’ve got a lot of good drivers here with Hoosier being closed. There’s a lot of helmets, there’s more helmets than spots on the racetrack right now so hopefully we’ll see a little bit of a change and a little bit of a pick-up, and we’ll go from here. Right now, in the sense of money, it’s not far off of what I’m used to getting. My results are not the same, but that will get there.”

The renaissance of racing in the Midwest — thanks to strengthening sires stakes programs in both Ohio and Indiana — can also pave a potential path to the Grand Circuit for Cushing, albeit an unconventional one by traditional wisdom.

“I’ve talked to Chad at times and some other people, and if you want long-term goals Grand Circuit-wise, Ohio is strong anyway,” he concluded. “I think they’re going to make a big impact in the next couple years if not sooner.”