BRIAN VICKERS NOTES & QUOTES
VICKERS DEPENDABLE AT DOVER:
In six career Dover (Del.) International Speedway starts (NEXTEL Cup and Busch Series combined), driver Brian Vickers has five top-15 qualifying efforts, including four in the top five, and maintains an average start of 8.8. His only position outside the top-15 came in June 2005 when time trials were rained out.
ON THIS DATE:
Darrell Waltrip took the checkered flag at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway on Sept. 25, 1988, marking Hendrick Motorsports’ 19th Cup Series victory since its inception in 1984. The organization now has 136 Cup-level wins.
MILE MARKERS:
In four NEXTEL Cup events this season at one-mile tracks -- Dover, New Hampshire (twice) and Phoenix -- Vickers and GMAC Racing have recorded one pole position (New Hampshire), two top-10 finishes and an average result of 8.75.
HENDRICK AIMING FOR 10TH DOVER WIN:
Rick Hendrick leads all car owners with nine Cup Series victories at Dover International Speedway. He’s won with five different drivers: Jeff Gordon (4), Jimmie Johnson (2), Ricky Rudd, Ken Schrader and Geoffrey Bodine.
VICKERS BACK IN BUSCH SERIES:
Driving a No. 57 Pizza Hut Chevy at Dover, Vickers will make the fifth of his six scheduled NASCAR Busch Series starts this season. The Thomasville, N.C., native qualified seventh and finished third Aug. 13 at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International in his most recent event on the circuit. His final Busch Series outing of 2005 is slated for Nov. 19 at Homestead, Fla.
SCARY GOOD THE AT ‘MONSTER MILE’:
In three Busch Series starts at Dover, Vickers has led 105 laps while averaging a starting position of 6.6 and a finish of 6.3. His most recent NASCAR win came there in the September 2003 Busch Series race.
‘57’ UP FRONT:
In four Busch Series starts this season in the No. 57 Chevrolets, Vickers has yet to qualify outside of the top 10. His average start in 2005 is 5.2.
GMAC RACING TESTING MARTINSVILLE:
Performing a tire test for Goodyear, Vickers and GMAC Racing will spend Oct. 3-4 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.
BRIAN VICKERS, DRIVER OF THE NO. 25 GMAC/ditech.com CHEVROLETS:
(NOW THAT THE CHASE HAS STARTED, DO YOU RACE CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENDERS ANY DIFFERENTLY?) “I’m mindful that they’re competing for a championship, but I wouldn’t say I race them any differently. I’ll race them the same way they race against me. Even though there are 33 other drivers not in contention for the title, all of us still have to perform and try to achieve the best result we can.”
VICKERS:
(WHAT WAS YOUR IMPRESSION OF NASCAR ISSUING THE RED FLAG SUNDAY AT NEW HAMPSHIRE, IN PART TO LET TEMPERS COOL DOWN?) “I thought it was a great idea. It was kind of like a time out you used to get when you were younger -- only with adults. I think it helped. Who knows what would have happened if things continued like they were? Someone could’ve been hurt.”
VICKERS:
(YOU WON THE BUSCH SERIES RACE AT DOVER IN 2003. HOW MUCH DIFFERENT IS IT TO DRIVE A CUP CAR VERSUS A BUSCH CAR THERE?) “The difference between the two is minimal. The Cup car’s longer wheelbase makes it a little more difficult to turn, but not enough that you have to change your line or the way you drive the track.”
VICKERS:
(WHAT’S THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE RACING AT DOVER?) “Pit road is challenging because the pit boxes are small and pit road itself isn’t very wide. Once you pull out of your pit, you really have to do all you can to get to the outside wall as fast as you can. If another car pulls out, you’re liable to get hit or have to get on the brakes to avoid them.”
