BRIAN VICKERS NOTES & QUOTES
VICKERS GETS ‘DEGA TOP-10:
Brian Vickers and GMAC Racing recorded a sixth-place result Sunday at Talladega, Ala., marking the first time since July 2004 a No. 25 Chevrolet has posted a top-10 finish at a superspeedway. The effort also ranks as the career-best superspeedway finish for the 21-year-old NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series driver, whose previous high was a ninth-place run during the 2004 Pepsi 400 at Daytona Beach, Fla.
‘25’ MAKING POINTS PUSH:
If Vickers maintains his current 17th-place position in the NEXTEL Cup standings, GMAC Racing will match the best performance by the No. 25 Hendrick Motorsports team since driver Jerry Nadeau finished 17th in 2001. Should the team improve, it will challenge the 12th-place season posted by Ken Schrader in 1996. Vickers currently rests 35 markers out of 15th and 134 points from 11th.
McGREW PICKS CHASSIS 294:
Crew chief Lance McGrew has selected Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 294 for this weekend’s NEXTEL Cup festivities at Kansas Speedway. Sunday will mark the car’s third appearance of 2005 after running in both races at Pocono Raceway, where it finished second in June and 14th in July.
MEET BRIAN VICKERS:
On Friday, Vickers will greet fans and sign autographs beginning at 6 p.m. at McCarthy Chevrolet in Olathe, Kan. The next day, Vickers will sign at the No. 25 GMAC Racing souvenir hauler following Saturday’s NEXTEL Cup qualifying session at Kansas.
BRIAN VICKERS, DRIVER OF THE NO. 25 GMAC/ditech.com CHEVROLETS:
(HOW DOES IT FEEL TO FINALLY GET A GOOD RESULT AT TALLADEGA?) “We didn’t qualify very well, but the guys brought a really sound car for drafting. For once, we managed to stay out of the big wrecks and work our way toward the front. In the end, we just didn’t have the kind of help we needed to pull it off. In my opinion, the outside groove was the place to be all day, but I went low toward the end of the race, hoping some guys would pull up behind me. That never happened, but fortunately we were able to leave with a good result and a car in one piece.”
VICKERS:
(YOU HAVEN’T HAD MUCH LUCK AT KANSAS IN YOUR CAREER. ANY PARTICULAR REASON WHY?) “The two Busch Series races we ran, we were involved in accidents that hurt any chances of a good finish. Last year (in the NEXTEL Cup Series) it was more of a handling issue. Until last weekend, Talladega was another of the tracks where I had been unable to get a good finish, but look at how things change. I like the track (Kansas) and I know how hard the guys on the team have worked to develop a good intermediate track program. I can’t guarantee anything, but I believe we’ll be solid this time around at Kansas.”
