VICKERS BECAME YOUNGEST AT HOMESTEAD:
At age 20, Brian Vickers became NASCAR's youngest-ever champion with an 11th-place finish in the November 2003 Busch Series season finale at Homestead, Fla., claiming Hendrick Motorsports' first circuit title in the process. It was one of the closest championship battles in Busch Series history, with the top four drivers separated by a mere 49 points in the final standings. Vickers now drives the No. 25 GMAC Financial Services Chevrolets for Hendrick in NEXTEL Cup competition.
QUALIFYING UP FRONT:
In two career Busch Series starts (2002 and 2003) and one in the Cup Series (2003), Vickers has never qualified worse than sixth at Homestead. In those three events, the 21-year-old NEXTEL Cup rookie has an average starting position of 3.6.
VICKERS LED FIRST LAPS AT HOMESTEAD:
During last year's season-ending 400-miler, Vickers qualified third and led for 11 laps -- the first of his Cup Series career -- before succumbing to a blown tire and finishing 34th.
'25' CHASSIS INFO:
The No. 25 team will field Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 2552 in this weekend's NEXTEL Cup event. Sunday will mark the fifth 2004 appearance for the car after its August introduction at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In four races, the team has posted one pole position (California Speedway in September) and one top-10 start. Most recently, the GMAC team ran the car at Atlanta, posting a season-best seventh-place finish.
BRIAN VICKERS, DRIVER OF THE NO. 25 GMAC FINANCIAL SERVICES CHEVROLETS:
(ON CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTIONS.) "I'm on the fence right now. Jimmie (Johnson) and his team definitely have the momentum going into Homestead. On paper, I have to believe they're the favorite, but I wouldn't rule Jeff (Gordon) out of the equation. He's hungry for another championship, no doubt about it. Jeff's strong suit is his experience. He's already won four championships. In the end, I guess I can't pick a clear-cut favorite."
VICKERS:
(HOW WOULD YOU GRADE YOUR ROOKIE SEASON IN THE NEXTEL CUP SERIES?) "It's been a pretty exciting year. It's definitely had its ups and downs, but all and all, this team has stuck together. Whether we've learned from the good things we've done -- like winning two poles -- or the mistakes we've made, we've learned together. Some of our goals have been met and others probably have not. That doesn't mean 2004 was unsuccessful. The biggest thing is what we take away from this season to make us better. We still have one last chance to win a race and that would be a great ending."
