Tropicana 400 - Brian Vickers Notes

VICKERS AND '25' IN RHYTHM: During the last seven NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races dating back to May 15 at Richmond, Va., driver Brian Vickers and the GMAC Racing team have recorded five top-15 results, including top-10 showings in two of the last three events (Brooklyn, Mich., and Daytona Beach, Fla.). The performance of the No. 25 Chevrolets during that stretch has garnered an average finish of 14.14. In the seven events prior to Richmond, the team's average result was 22.85.

HMS HITTING STRIDE: Hendrick Motorsports has earned six victories and six pole positions in the last 10 NEXTEL Cup events dating back to the 500-lapper at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway on April 18. During that stretch, a Hendrick team has either finished first, earned the pole or won from the pole in nine of those 10, with the only exception being the June 6 race at Dover, Del.

ROOKIE MAKING UP GROUND: After departing from the season-opener at Daytona ranked 39th in the NEXTEL Cup standings, Vickers and GMAC Racing closed out the first half of the 2004 schedule with a ninth-place finish Saturday night, vaulting the team to 19th in points -- a gain of 20 positions over the past 16 races.

HENDRICK TEAMS SEEKING CHICAGOLAND POLE: Hendrick Motorsports' four-car stable leads all NEXTEL Cup operations with six collective pole positions in 2004. Jeff Gordon has four first-place starts, including each of the last three events, while Vickers and Jimmie Johnson have one each. Evernham Motorsports is second with five poles, followed by Penske Racing with three. Chicagoland is one of just three tracks on the circuit where Hendrick has not won a pole (the others being Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway).

1.5-MILE TIME TRIALS SUIT VICKERS: Sunday's 267-lap scramble at Chicagoland will mark the fifth event of the NEXTEL Cup season at a 1.5-mile track. In the four previous races -- Las Vegas, Atlanta, Fort Worth, Texas, and Concord, N.C. -- the No. 25 team has recorded qualifying efforts of third, second, 13th, and fifth, respectively. This season, the best finish for GMAC Racing at a 1.5-mile circuit came in April at Texas Motor Speedway, where Vickers placed 12th.

HENDRICK BY THE NUMBERS: In 2004, Hendrick Motorsports has nailed down a combined seven victories, six pole positions, 18 top-five finishes and 32 top-10s among its four full-time NEXTEL Cup entries, putting the organization at the top of each category.

'25' TEAM TAKING POCONO CAR TO CHICAGO: GMAC Racing will field Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 2547 this weekend at Chicagoland Speedway. The car was last used to compete June 13 at Pocono Raceway, where Vickers qualified second and finished 13th.

INDY TEST FOR VICKERS: Following Sunday's Tropicana 400, GMAC Racing will spend Monday and Tuesday (July 12-13) testing Indianapolis Motor Speedway in preparation for next month's Brickyard 400. The session will mark Vickers' first-ever laps around the famed 2.5-mile oval.

HOMECOMING FOR '25' CREWMAN: GMAC Racing crew member Chris Spaulding will visit his home state when NASCAR rolls into Joliet, Ill., this weekend. Spaulding, who provides engineering support at the shop and handles catch-can duties on race days, hails from nearby Gurnee.

BRIAN VICKERS, DRIVER OF THE NO. 25 GMAC FINANCIAL SERVICES CHEVROLETS: (WHAT'S YOUR ASSESSMENT OF THE FIRST HALF OF THE SEASON?) "I like the direction we're headed and feel good with the momentum we've built over the last couple months. The qualifying efforts lately have been good and the race finishes are starting to reflect the progress we've made. We've met a few of our goals so far -- the pole at Richmond being one. It's been somewhat of a slow process getting to the level we're at now and it's still going to take time to get where we know we can be."

VICKERS: (ON THE TEAM'S STRONG EFFORT AT DAYTONA LAST WEEKEND.) "It was a solid night and I'm proud of the effort our whole team made. We got shuffled back and just fought to work our way back up front, but we have great cars and engines at Hendrick Motorsports and the guys gave me great pit stops all night. What a night for Hendrick, with Jeff (Gordon) winning and all of us placing in the top-10. I really enjoy the restrictor plate races and I'm learning something new every time."

VICKERS: (WHAT GOALS HAVE YOU SET FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THE SEASON?) "Personally, my goals haven't changed and probably won't. Right now, we're working toward being more consistent. We'll take the top-15 finishes and move on to top-10s and so on down the line. Everything will fall into place if we continue to work on our consistency. I know it."