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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Juan Montoya To Exit EGR (Does This Spell Doom for Patrick?)

If you had not heard the news from SiriusXM, Juan Pablo Montoya will not be renewing his contract with Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, when this year comes to a close.

Per Felix Sabates.

I'm not surprised.  He's been marginally successful with two wins, and drives like a man possessed, no matter how many laps down he is.  Juan... this is not Formula 1!  But I think he's figured that out by now.

At the moment, Montoya is 22nd in points on the Sprint Cup driver roster, which by the way, is five spots ahead of Danica Patrick.

I've always compared Montoya's journey in NASCAR with Danica Patrick's present attempt to gel with the ranks of some of the best auto racing drivers in the world.

I've watched Montoya struggle, with a straggle win here and there, much like Patrick has done.

But I've also seen where he is outperforming her.  (Actually even her boyfriend is kicking her ass in the standings right now.)

Many folks have said she wasn't ready for Sprint Cup racing yet.  Hell, she barely broke the top-10 in the Nationwide series and consistently got trounced by any visiting Cup driver when they came to the series to race.

The ONLY thing she has going for her is that huge fan support and expectations of what she could possibly do.  Or maybe, more to the point, what they hope she will do.

But at 411 points out of first, (more than 100 behind Stenhouse Jr. and Montoya), if she didn't have the big green sponsor or fan hopes, I have to wonder just how long she'd last as a regular Joe driver?

Just sayin'!

But back on subject, I wonder, now that Ryan Newman and Montoya are free agents for 2014, who will land the better ride?  It will be weird to see Montoya in a car that's not red.  That's for sure.

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Allmendinger Signs Contract

If you're an Allmendinger fan, rejoice!

A.J. Allmendinger signed a contract with Richard Petty Motorsports that lasts through the 2010 season.

Up until now, 'Dinger has been driving under a creative contract, dependent on sponsors and performance. He's proven the performance part. (NBaP would love to see him in top tier equipment!) And up until recently, was guaranteed a ride up until Richmond with a new sponsor signing on until then.

It seems that all the chatter about the possibility of 'Dinger headed looking at a ride with an American Formula One team, or other NASCAR teams that started inquiring into his availability cranked the interest up a notch from RPM.

Regardless, the Los Gatos, CA native (He's nearly my neighbor!) has himself a ride for a while. Way to go A.J.!

Source: ESPN