Brian Vickers hopes for return to full-time NASCAR role takes a big leap forward

LOUDON, NH - JULY 14: Brian Vickers, driver of the #55 Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota, celebrates with fiance Sarah Kensington in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Camping World RV Sales 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 14, 2013 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
LOUDON, NH - JULY 14: Brian Vickers, driver of the #55 Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota, celebrates with fiance Sarah Kensington in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Camping World RV Sales 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 14, 2013 in Loudon, New Hampshire.  (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
LOUDON, NH – JULY 14: Brian Vickers, driver of the #55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota, celebrates with fiance Sarah Kensington in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Camping World RV Sales 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 14, 2013 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

It wasn’t all that long ago that some in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series had written off Brian Vickers. He seemed to be a driver no one wanted.  He had a long resume behind him making his debut with powerhouse Hendrick Motorsports in 2003; he campaigned a full schedule in 2004 scoring four top 10s in the No. 25 car.

His stature grew in 2005 when he bested his record scoring five top fives, 10 top 10 finishes and his first pole.  Vickers first win came at Talladega in 2006 in a somewhat controversial finish.  It would mark his first and only NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win with Hendrick Motorsports as Vickers and the team parted ways and he signed with the upstart Red Bull Racing team for 2007.

Red Bull Racing struggled in their first year; with no owner’s points to fall back on, Vickers and the team failed to qualify for 13 of the 36 events. By 2009 however the team seemed to be on the way up. In February of that year Vickers scored his first win with the team that coming at Fontana. The 2009 season appeared to be shaping up as a breakout one and Vickers finished a career best 12th in the standings. MORE>>>

Greg Engle
About Greg Engle 7421 Articles
Greg is a published award winning sportswriter who spent 23 years combined active and active reserve military service, much of that in and around the Special Operations community. Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.