TEAM RED BULL
PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY

ENTRIES: Red Bull No. 83 Brian Vickers and Red Bull No. 84 Mike Skinner
RACE: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series “Subway Fresh Fit 500”
TRACK: Phoenix International Raceway, Avondale, AZ DATES: April 10-12, 2008

+ THE STATE OF BOTH RED BULLS
Brian Vickers graded his Texas afternoon as just “OK.” A dismal starting position of 36th hardly hindered Vickers, however, and he was in the top 20 in no time. But Vickers couldn’t maintain the pace of the leaders (not many could), who lapped all cars up to 11th. He ended a lap down in 16th.

“Nobody gave up, though,” Vickers said, “and we improved the car by the end of the race. It should end up a decent points day for us.”

Vickers and Red Bull Racing Team’s No. 83 held the 18th position in their respective standings heading to Phoenix International Raceway. Vickers owns an average starting position of 7.7 at PIR, and in seven races at the one-mile oval he has qualified sixth or better five times.

But what matters is where you finish, and Vickers has finished inside the top 15 four times, with a best showing of fifth (April 2005).

Mike Skinner qualified ninth at Texas, but an engine change sent the No. 84 to the rear of the field. Skinner stayed there most of the day and finished 29th, and now the No. 84 sits 40th in owner points.

+ ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Somewhere, heading west to Phoenix is the motorcoach of Mike and Angie Skinner. They don’t bother with private aircraft to get from place to place. Rather the Skinners do travel the old-fashioned way.

“When we did Cup full time, there are so many demands on your time … sponsor, team and media,” Mike Skinner said. “You cherish every day that you’re sleeping in your own bed.” The bed, in the case, is on wheels.

“While we’re going down the highway, she’s on the Internet finding cool places to go,” Skinner said. “We’ve seen a lot of the country. I’ve played great golf courses, gone to great restaurants.”

Some of the Skinners’ favorite stops along the way include Coopers Rock, W.Va., Nashville, Tenn., and Tombstone, Ariz.

+SPEED IN SALEM
After a 10-week layoff, the ARCA season resumes this weekend at the short track in Salem, Ind. Scott Speed, who finished 39th in the season-opening event at Daytona after an early crash, sits 37th in points as the series competes for six consecutive weeks.

+ AIR RACING ABOVE ABU DHABI
The 2008 Red Bull Air Race World Series season goes green Thursday and Friday in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

It’s the fourth consecutive year that Abu Dhabi has hosted the Red Bull Air Race. The action will take place at the Abu Dhabi Corniche, with qualifying Thursday followed by flat-out racing Friday.

Abu Dhabi brings together old world charm and cosmopolitan sophistication. With year-round sunshine, miles of unspoiled beached, rugged mountain scenery and a thriving center with spectacular architecture it is no surprise that Abu Dhabi destination No. 1 for many tourists.

The Red Bull Air Race World Series hits North America for two events in the United States — May 3-4 in San Diego and May 31-June 1 in Detroit.