Vickers riding fast track

After win at Darlington, young driver heads to Winston Cup

A year ago, Brian Vickers was a little-known 18-year-old driver trying to compete in as many NASCAR Grand National Series races as possible with his family-owned team.

He isn’t likely to have problems getting rides any longer.

Fresh off his second Grand National Series win of the season last weekend at Darlington, S.C., Vickers received news this week he is taking another giant step in his NASCAR career — this time to Winston Cup.

Hendrick Motorsports named Vickers the driver of its No. 25 Chevrolets beginning in 2004. He will replace Joe Nemechek, who has been with the team since the middle of last season and will finish out the year.

Since joining Hendrick Motorsports in December of last year, Vickers, who turns 20 Oct. 24, has planted himself on the fast track to success.

“Bringing this young man on board has been truly exciting,” said team owner Rick Hendrick, who also fields Cup teams for Jeff Gordon, Terry Labonte and Jimmie Johnson.

“Brian has proven that he has the tools to be successful, not only through on-track performance, but with his maturity and ability to handle himself in a way that represents our sponsors, our teams and our sport in a positive light.”

Vickers, a three-time World Karting Association national champion and former Hooters ProCup rookie of the year, said he looked forward to the difficult challenges ahead.

“The opportunity that Rick Hendrick has offered me is tremendous,” Vickers said. “My goal in coming to Hendrick Motorsports was to be competitive each week and race for championships.”

Brian Vickers, right, gets a victory hug from teammate Kyle Busch after Vickers won the Busch Series Winn-Dixie 200 Saturday in Darlington, S.C.

In just eight short months, Vickers — whose best finish in 25 starts prior to this season was seventh — has transformed into a weekly contender for race wins and a legitimate candidate for the Grand National championship.

He is third in points, 67 behind leader Scott Riggs. He has won two of the past four races — Indianapolis and Darlington — and has eight top-five and 15 top-10 finishes in 25 starts.

Vickers said he didn’t allow his quick success to cloud his mind with plans to move up in NASCAR anytime soon.

“I always said what happens next year or the year after, I’m not worried about it. I have an opportunity because I’m with Hendrick Motorsports,” Vickers said.

“I don’t have to be anxious or worry about it. I knew when the time was right, it would happen.”

Vickers moved into Hendrick’s No. 5 Chevrolet Grand National team — his first full-time ride in the series — this season full of potential.

Busch, left, and Vickers took a victory lap after the race

Although he statistically was in the championship hunt, it wasn’t until he won his first series race Aug. 2 that Vickers began to receive credit for his accomplishments.

“Until my first win, the highest we’d been was third. At the same time, we had been so close so many times. Our biggest thing was we couldn’t let that be a distraction,” Vickers said.

“We just needed to continue to do what got us to that point — being consistent, finishing races, staying out of trouble, and striving for those top-five finishes. We knew if we did that the wins would fall into place.”

They did, and much more.

Vickers, however, said it was difficult for a young driver to wait for success to develop.

“I tore a lot of stuff up in my first year. … We had some blown tires, we had some tough breaks and I made a lot of mistakes,” he said.

“Being within the Hendrick organization makes a huge difference. Rick Hendrick has so much advice to give a young driver to keep from making mistakes.”

Although his future in Cup will weigh on his mind, Vickers said he remained focused on his goal for this season — winning the Grand National title.

“Right now, I’m celebrating Darlington and we’ll look at the point sheet and see how many points back we are,” Vickers said. “But then it’s on to preparing for the next race. That’s the deal with me.”