PREVIEW: BRIAN VICKERS (NO. 25 GMAC CHEVROLET)
VENUE: POCONO RACEWAY (2.5-MILE TRI-OVAL)
CIRCUIT: NASCAR NEXTEL CUP SERIES (RACE 20 OF 36)
EVENT: SUNDAY, JULY 23 (200 LAPS, 500 MILES)

READY FOR POCONO: Driving a No. 25 GMAC Chevrolet, Brian Vickers led 19 laps and finished fourth at Pocono Raceway in June, marking his second top-five result in the past three NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races at the 2.5-mile tri-oval. Vickers led 140 laps in those three events (dating back to June 2005).

'25' IMPROVES QUALIFYING: After opening the season with just one top-10 start in the first nine events, the GMAC Racing team has stepped up its qualifying efforts in the 10 races since. Beginning with Richmond, Va., in May, Vickers has earned six top-10 starts, with five of those inside the top five.

POCONO PROWESS: In five NEXTEL Cup starts at Pocono Raceway, Vickers has never qualified worse than eighth. He maintains an average starting position of 4.6 and an average finish of 9.4 at the venue.

CONSISTENCY, CONSISTENCY: With a 17th-place result at New Hampshire International Speedway, the GMAC Racing team extended its streak of top-20 finishes to six races dating back to the June event at Pocono. During the stretch, the team has climbed eight positions in the standings while averaging a finish of 13th.

McGREW PICKS CHASSIS 334: This Sunday at Pocono, crew chief Lance McGrew will call upon Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 334 for the fifth time this season. The car has competed at Las Vegas, Atlanta, Darlington, S.C., and most recently at Pocono.

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VICKERS WALKING WITH ERNIE IRVAN: Brian Vickers will join former NEXTEL Cup driver Ernie Ervan, race fans and other NASCAR personalities at 6 p.m. local time on Friday at Pocono Raceway as part of the Leadership and Awareness to Promote Safety (LAPS) Walk to raise money and awareness for traumatic brain injury.

VICKERS SIGNING FOR FANS: Following the completion of NEXTEL Cup final practice on Saturday, Brian Vickers will greet fans and sign autographs at the GMAC Racing souvenir hauler outside Pocono Raceway.

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BRIAN VICKERS, DRIVER OF THE NO. 25 GMAC CHEVROLET: (ON BEING ABLE TO IMPROVE UPON THE TEAM'S PERFORMANCE FROM THE FIRST RACE AT POCONO.) "We ran well, led some laps and had a good race car, but we didn't get the win and that's what we really wanted. Were we happy? Yes, but we weren't satisfied because we went there to win the race."

VICKERS: (WHAT IS IT ABOUT POCONO THAT ALLOWS THE GMAC RACING TEAM TO EXCEL THERE?) "I don't know. I wish we could figure out what makes the track so special for us because we'd apply to every other track we go to. Some drivers and teams seem to run well at certain places. Since the first time I went to Pocono to test during my rookie year, I've enjoyed the track. Couple that with the fact that the No. 25 team has historically run well at Pocono and that may provide some explanation as to the success there for us."

VICKERS: (IS IT ODD TO RACE AT POCONO TWICE IN SEVEN RACES?) "It is different, but I know there's a reason for the schedule being the way it is. I'm glad we get the northern races throughout the summer, even if we have to go to Pocono and Michigan so close together. The summer months down south can be pretty hot."

VICKERS: (DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU LET ONE GET AWAY AT NEW HAMPSHIRE?) "All I know is that the car we had for the race on Sunday was the best I ever had there. It was strong, real strong, but we had some things not go in our favor. Once we fell behind on track position we fought hard to overcome it, but it seemed like each time we did, something else would happen."