Samsung/Radio Shack 500 - Brian Vickers Notes

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RICKY: Ricky Hendrick, co-owner of the No. 25 Chevrolets and spotter for GMAC Racing, will celebrate his 24th birthday in Texas on Friday, April 2.

VICKERS RETURNS TO TEXAS: Brian Vickers, driver the No. 25 GMAC Financial Services Chevrolets, will make his first appearance at Texas in NEXTEL Cup competition. In the March 2003 Busch Series event, the Thomasville, N.C., native started fifth and led 87 laps in his Texas debut before finishing 25th following a controversial penalty that took him out of the lead.

'25' AT TMS: During the 2003 Cup Series event at Texas, the No. 25 team qualified ninth and finished 35th after a cut tire on Lap 279 caused the No. 25 Chevrolet to make contact with the outside retaining wall in Turn 3. The damage put an early end to the team's day.

1.5-MILE TREND: This weekend's 334-lapper at Texas will mark the third NEXTEL Cup event of the season at a 1.5-mile track. During the two previous races (Las Vegas and Atlanta), the GMAC team recorded qualifying efforts of third and second, respectively.

HENDRICK UP FRONT: Hendrick Motorsports has both qualified and finished in the top 10 in all seven Cup Series races held at Texas, with the exception of April 1998 event. Labonte finished fifth that year, but no HMS team qualified in the top 10.

BRIAN VICKERS, DRIVER OF THE NO. 25 GMAC FINANCIAL SERVICES CHEVROLETS: (YOU WERE INVOLVED IN A CONTROVERSIAL CALL DURING THE BUSCH SERIES RACE AT TEXAS LAST YEAR. WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM THAT INCIDENT?) "I've learned that things all seem to work themselves out in the end. When the penalty was handed down, everyone was mad and frustrated about the decision because we had a win in our grasp. I don't think our team could have handled it (the situation) any better than we did, given the circumstances. Last year's Texas race showed us how to win and lose, and helped light a fire which propelled us to three wins and the Busch Series championship."

VICKERS: (ARE YOU DISAPPOINTED WITH YOUR TEAM'S START TO THE SEASON?) "I wouldn't use the word disappointed. Obviously, we'd like to have started the season minus the issues we've had, but that's part of the learning curve. It's just a matter of sorting through things and getting pointed in the right direction. The Texas race was a turning point for our Busch team in 2003 -- maybe it will be again."

PETER SOSPENZO, CREW CHIEF OF THE NO. 25 GMAC FINANCIAL SERVICES CHEVROLETS: (HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE DRIVE SHAFT PROBLEM LAST SUNDAY AT BRISTOL?) "At this point, we're leaning toward it being a mechanical failure on behalf of the drive shaft. NASCAR has inspected the parts and could not make a determination as to what caused the problem. We've since sent all of the pieces from the drive shaft to be analyzed and should know more in a week or so. The incident we had during practice in Atlanta and this one are not related."

EDITOR'S NOTE: The No. 25 team had drive shaft problems in Sunday's race at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway and during practice prior to the March 14 event at Atlanta Motor Speedway.