NASCAR Statement on Brian Vickers Participation in 2015 Season

via press release

NASCAR Statement from Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR Executive Vice President & Chief Racing Development Officer on Brian Vickers Participation in 2015 Season 

“With the clearance from his physicians, Brian Vickers has satisfied all necessary NASCAR requirements to resume racing on March 5. Further, NASCAR has reviewed the circumstances surrounding his situation and has determined that he will maintain Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup eligibility despite neither entering nor attempting to qualify in the first two championship events, provided he meets all other necessary eligibility requirements.”

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Brian Vickers out for Rest of 2013 Season

Michael Waltrip Racing announced that Brian Vickers will be missing the rest of the 2013 Sprint Cup racing season due to "health issues."

After an exam, Vickers' doctor put him back on blood thinner meds after a clot was discovered in the calf region of one leg.

It's expected that he'll be back in race shape long before the 2014 race season gets underway.

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That's a shame, considering I think this was a great match up for both the team and Vickers.  (Barring the obvious scandals, the team can still perform)

But this casts a shadow over Vicker's as a driver, doesn't it?  I don't mean his talent, but what of his health?

If you get sponsors based on a driver, or the driver brings sponsors, will sponsors still be willing to back a driver whose underlying health condition can wave a red flag at any time?

For some sponsors, I imagine that makes him more of a gamble than normal when sponsoring a driver or his team.

And MWR is already having sponsor issues from their stunts they pulled at Richmond.

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Regardless, I like Brian Vickers abilities on the track and I hope this little set back gets resolved sooner than later and he gets back in good standing with his blood!

In the meantime, Michael Waltrip will be helming the No. 55 car at Talladega this upcoming weekend and a replacement driver for the remainder of the season will be announced.

[MWR press release]

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Brian Vickers in the No. 55, Mark Martin Out and Moves To...

Brian Vickers is getting some much needed pre-season testing for his new ride in the No. 55 car, by being allowed to jump in to the car for Michael Waltrip Racing for twelve of the final 13 races in the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup season.

Of course one wonders wtf, for Mark Martin.

But never fear.  Turns out a broken leg is good for most involved.

Mark Martin might be getting out of the No. 55 car, but he's not out of a ride.

SHR (Stewart Haas Racing) is reporting that Mark Martin will be taking over duties for the No. 14 car for Bristol and eleven other races for the rest of the year!

That's good news all around!

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Brian Vickers Goes Full-Time in the No. 55 Car

Brian Vickers fans are going to be very happy, being that Aaron's just signed a multi-year agreement with Michael Waltrip Racing to sponsor the No. 55 car with Brian Vickers behind the wheel!

I think this is great news for Vickers, being able to get back behind a wheel full-time.

Having driven for the team before, and done well doing it, I expect some pretty big things for Brian next year and then some!

via press release:

Aaron’s, Inc. (NYSE: AAN) announced today it has reached a multi-year agreement to sponsor Brian Vickers in Michael Waltrip Racing's No. 55 Toyota Camry in every NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.

 “Aaron’s is a championship organization – and Brian Vickers and the No. 55 team are a championship caliber team," said Ronald W. Allen, Aaron's Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our customers are enthusiastic and loyal NASCAR fans and we are proud to support a sport they are passionate about. We are looking forward to continued success with Brian Vickers both on and off the track.”

 Vickers has raced the No. 55 on a part-time basis the last two seasons for MWR posting several impressive performances including his third career victory at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 14.Beginning in 2014, he'll pilot the No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine with a fresh new paint scheme, unveiled today at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, in every race.“I can’t put into words how this makes me feel,” said the 29 year-old Vickers. “I’ve really found my home at MWR over the past few years have, and I've enjoyed getting know the Aaron's associates and customers. I am honored Aaron’s is welcoming me into their family full-time. Knowing that I have a top-notch team and a dedicated sponsor for a full season is a really great feeling every driver dreams about, and like everyone else, I want to win races and win a championship. Michael and co-owner Rob Kauffman are really building something special at MWR and are giving me the tools to accomplish those goals.”

 “Aaron’s is a cornerstone to MWR's success.  This is a big announcement today because it shows a tremendous vote of confidence in the sport of NASCAR and the entire Michael Waltrip Racing organization,” said Michael Waltrip founder and co-owner of Michael Waltrip Racing. “The relationship with Aaron’s is very personal to me because they helped place Michael Waltrip Racing on the map in 2000 when I was running a half dozen Nationwide Series races from a small garage in my backyard. Now they are enabling MWR to continue its growth as we will have three drivers racing for the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship in 2014 and beyond. So much of this confidence comes from the NASCAR fans who continue to support the sponsors of our teams. I want to sincerely thank the NASCAR fans who are Aaron’s customers because you make this all happen,” said Waltrip.

Aaron’s support of NASCAR goes beyond its support of MWR. In 2002, the company became a title sponsor of Aaron’s Dream Weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, with the Aaron’s 312 Nationwide Series race and the Aaron’s 499 NASCAR Sprint Cup race. 

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NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Official Results from New Hampshire

I missed this one gang... I was at a dog disc catching event.  And yes, it was worth it.  I won in my division.  But on to other things.

I hear the Kyle Busch got a bit snippity with the mouth about Ryan Newman and the wreck he got involved in with Kyle's brother, Kurt.  I haven't seen it but hey, really Kyle???

And with nothing to lose, as Ryan has no ride for next year, what with Kevin Harvick going to SHR with Budweiser next year, well, dang!  Hopefully Ryan will land on his feet!

via press release

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES OFFICIAL RACE REPORT No. 19
21ST ANNUAL CAMPING WORLD RV SALES "301"
NEW HAMPSHIRE MOTOR SPEEDWAY

Loudon, NH - July 14, 2013
1.058-Mile Oval
301 Laps - 318.46 Miles Purse: $5,367,865

Failed to qualify: n/a

Race Comments: Brian Vickers won the Camping World RV Sales 301, his third NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory. TIME OF RACE: 2 hours, 8 minutes, 40 seconds   AVERAGE SPEED: 105.087 mph   MARGIN OF VICTORY: 0.465 second(s)

TIME OF RACE:  3 hours, 14 minutes, 10 seconds   AVERAGE SPEED:  98.735 mph   MARGIN OF VICTORY:  0.582 second(s)

COORS LIGHT POLE AWARD: Brad Keselowski (135.922 mph. 28.022 secs.)
3M LAP LEADER: Tony Stewart (84 Laps)

Caution Flags: 12 cautions for 58 laps. [Beneficiary in Brackets]
5-9 (Car #22 Accident Turn 1 [None]);
15-21 (Car #9, 13, 29, 51 Accident Frontstretch [None]);
80-82 (Debris [87]);
124-128 (Car #11 Slowed On Track [34]);
157-161 (Debris [87]);
203-207 (Debris [93]);
211-213 (Debris [11]);
219-222 (Car #10 Spin Turn 2 [51]);
226-234 (Car #39, 78, 20, 5 Accident Turn 2 [30]);
238-242 (Car #17, 93, 10 Accident Turn 1 [87]);
259-262 (Car #24, 27 Accident Turn 2 [87]);
298-300 (Debris [87]).

Lap Leaders: 10 lead changes among 6 drivers. Keselowski 1-9, Ky. Busch 10-62, Ku. Busch 63-74, Keselowski 75-77, Ku. Busch 78-123, Keselowski 124, Kenseth 125-157, Keselowski 158, Ku. Busch 159-202, Stewart 203-286, Vickers 287-302.

NEXT EVENT: July 28, 2013 - 20th Annual Crown Royal Presents The Samuel Deeds 400 at The Brickyard Powered by BigMachineRecords.com, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis, IN (400 Miles) (160 Laps)

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Fin	Car			Series	Bonus		Laps
Pos	No	Driver	Laps	Points	Points	Status	led
1	55	Brian Vickers	302	0	0	Running	16
2	18	Kyle Busch	302	43	1	Running	53
3	31	Jeff Burton	302	41	0	Running
4	2	Brad Keselowski	302	41	1	Running	14
5	43	Aric Almirola	302	39	0	Running
6	48	Jimmie Johnson	302	38	0	Running
7	29	Kevin Harvick	302	37	0	Running
8	99	Carl Edwards	302	36	0	Running
9	20	Matt Kenseth	302	36	1	Running	33
10	24	Jeff Gordon	302	34	0	Running
11	5	Kasey Kahne	302	33	0	Running
12	1	Jamie McMurray	302	32	0	Running
13	15	Clint Bowyer	302	31	0	Running
14	88	Dale Earnhardt Jr	302	30	0	Running
15	16	Greg Biffle	302	29	0	Running
16	56	Martin Truex Jr	302	28	0	Running
17	27	Paul Menard	302	27	0	Running
18	38	David Gilliland	302	26	0	Running
19	34	David Ragan	302	25	0	Running
20	30	David Stremme	302	24	0	Running
21	11	Denny Hamlin	302	23	0	Running
22	51	AJ Allmendinger	302	22	0	Running
23	7	Dave Blaney	302	21	0	Running
24	42	Juan Pablo Montoya	302	20	0	Running
25	87	Joe Nemechek	302	0	0	Running
26	14	Tony Stewart	302	19	1	Running	84
27	47	Bobby Labonte	301	17	0	Running
28	83	David Reutimann	299	16	0	Running
29	36	J.J. Yeley	298	15	0	Running
30	32	Ken Schrader	298	14	0	Running
31	78	Kurt Busch	283	15	2	Running	102
32	33	Landon Cassill	281	0	0	Transmission
33	9	Marcos Ambrose	277	11	0	Running
34	17	Ricky Stenhouse Jr #	275	10	0	Running
35	35	Josh Wise	270	0	0	Running
36	13	Casey Mears	242	8	0	Running
37	10	Danica Patrick #	237	7	0	Accident
38	93	Travis Kvapil	236	6	0	Accident
39	39	Ryan Newman	225	5	0	Accident
40	22	Joey Logano	211	4	0	Running
41	52	Morgan Shepherd	92	0	0	Vibration
42	98	Michael McDowell	89	2	0	Vibration
43	19	Mike Bliss	75	0	0	Rear Gear

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Now We Know Who's Subbing For Denny Hamlin

Despite confusing reports, the details are now verified as to who might be subbing for Denny Hamlin while he recovers from his fractured spine injury.  (L1 Compression Fracture)

Mark Martin will be taking the wheel of the No. 11 FedEx Toyota coming up at Martinsville.  After that, Brian Vickers will be strapped into the No. 11 Toyota for the subsequent races.

Yes, Michael Waltrip Racing is providing the substitute drivers while Denny is recuperating.  In some previous media reports, I heard Michael Waltrip say that Denny is a friend of his and is willing to help out any way they can.

And that's pretty cool.

And hopefully, Denny will be on track and git back in the car as soon as possible.  Fans are all looking forward to it.  And then we'll see Denny get to work and see what he and his team can do to make up the points deficit.

It will be fun for fans to watch and root for to see what comes of it.

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In the meantime, let's see how Brian and Mark can do in this strange, new car.

Brian Vickers Racing for Joe Gibbs Nationwide Team

Brian Vickers has a full-time ride this year with Joe Gibbs Racing, and it's in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.  He'll be driving the No. 20 Chevy in the NNS.

BUT...

Brian will also be running nine NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races for Michael Waltrip Racing, in the No. 55 Toyota.

The last time Vickers ran full-time in the "Nationwide" series, was 2003 when it was called the Busch Series...  and he won the championship for Hendrick Motorsports.

Vickers credits his relationship with Toyota for getting these rides in 2013, and, with his being in what is called one of the best Toyota teams in the Nationwide series, I think he's got a great chance to make something of it this year.

It will be good to see him in a full-time ride.  He's a likable guy!

Vickers Fails Inspection

Brian Vickers failed the post qualifying inspection, his LF being deemed an 1/8th of an inch too low.

His qual times were disallowed, and he did not make the field.

http://www.scenedaily.com/stories/2007/06/25/scene_daily1107.html

NASCAR is tested again??

Red Bull Team Tragedy

Jimmy Sprinkle, 44, was a mechanic for Brian Vickers, a driver for the Red Bull racing team, was shot to death outside his home in Alexander County late Saturday. Link

Our deepest condolences to his family and friends.

Vickers and HIS NEW RIDE

It seems that Brain Vickers Toyota had a section of exhaust pipe that failed and separated, causing fumes and excessive heat to enter his driving compartment.

Brian Vickers is doing well and recovering from his 1st and 2nd degree burns on his feet and "bottom".

Link