Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400 - Brian Vickers Notes

VICKERS AT 'THE ROCK': On Sunday, Brian Vickers will make his first career Winston Cup start at North Carolina Speedway and his fourth overall on the circuit. The 20-year-old started 15th and finished eighth at the 1.017-mile oval earlier this season in the NASCAR Busch Series.

TOP-FIVE STARTS FOR 25: Vickers and the No. 25 UAW-Delphi team qualified second at Phoenix International Raceway last weekend, marking the team's best start since earning the outside pole at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway in May. In two Winston Cup qualifying attempts in the No. 25 Chevy this season, Vickers has earned starts of fourth and second at Atlanta and Phoenix, respectively.

NO. 25 TESTS ROCKINGHAM: Team 25 spent two days testing at Rockingham for this weekend's Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400. Vickers and his team departed early during the second day of testing because of inclement weather.

LOOKING FOR NINE: Hendrick Motorsports remains tied with Penske Racing for the most Winston Cup wins this season. Ryan Newman has each of Penske's eight victories, while all four of Hendrick's full-time teams have won at least once. Since 1984, Hendrick Motorsports has earned 117 Winston Cup wins.

DOUBLE DUTY FOR VICKERS: Vickers will take part in both the Busch Series and Winston Cup Series races this weekend at Rockingham. The youngster continues to get experience in his Winston Cup ride for next year, while competing for the championship in the Busch Series. He is currently third in the Busch Series driver standings.

HENDRICK UP FRONT AT PIR: Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Vickers occupied three of the top-five starting positions for last weekend's 312-miler at Phoenix. Vickers led the trio by qualifying second, with Johnson third and Gordon fourth.

CHASSIS NO. 2540 FOR TEAM 25: The UAW-Delphi team will field Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 2540 on Sunday at Rockingham -- the same car that most recently was used at Kansas Speedway five races ago, finishing 37th.

HENDRICK CREWS VIE FOR TITLE: The 36th annual Union 76/Rockingham World Pit Crew Competition will be held on Saturday at North Carolina Speedway, where teams will vie for a $30,000 first-place award. The total purse for the event is $100,000, with a $10,000 bonus going to any team that comes away with a new world record. Each pit stop is timed as teams change a full set of tires while emptying 14 gallons of fuel into the car. Hendrick teams won the title in 1992, 1994 and 1996.

DELPHI FAST FACT: Delphi's sensor catalog is bigger than the Sears Wish Book.

BRIAN VICKERS, DRIVER OF THE NO. 25 UAW-DELPHI CHEVROLET: (ON FINISHING 13th AT PHOENIX.) "It wasn't bad. It was really my first full race with this team and it turned out well. We finished on the lead lap, stayed out of trouble and gained a lot of experience together. I only wish we had a few more laps because I think we could have finished even better. Our car really started to run well late in the race."

VICKERS: (ON HIS TEAM'S TEST AT ROCKINGHAM.) "The weather didn't cooperate with us very much. We didn't even turn a lap on the second day, which was a little disappointing. On the bright side, I did get to run some laps there in a Winston Cup car."

VICKERS: (HOW MUCH DID YOU LEARN FROM SUNDAY'S RACE IN PHOENIX?) "It was a good learning experience for everyone, especially for Peter (Sospenzo, crew chief) and myself. More than anything, Peter was able to pinpoint what adjustments to make and to what degree when I tell him what's going on with the car. He now has a better idea what I mean when I say the car is really tight."

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