NASCAR Sprint-Cup Series
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CUP: Vickers Picks Up Road-Course Races
Brian Vickers’ schedule for Michael Waltrip Racing increases to eight races…
Mike Hembree  |  Posted March 30, 2012   Martinsville, VA
Brian Vickers led 125 laps and finished fifth in his debut with Michael Waltrip Racing at Bristol two weeks ago. (Photo: Getty Images)
After an excellent return to Sprint Cup racing at Bristol Motor Speedway, Brian Vickers has picked up some additional work.

Michael Waltrip Racing announced Friday that it has added two events to Vickers’ Sprint Cup schedule in its No. 55 Toyotas. Vickers, who led 125 laps and finished fifth in his debut with MWR at Bristol two weeks ago, will drive the car in the tour’s two road-course races – at Infineon Raceway June 24 and Watkins Glen International Aug. 12.

“Brian did such an amazing job at Bristol that we wanted to reward him with more races,” said co-owner Michael Waltrip, who will drive the No. 55 in four races. “It has as much to do with how he interacted with (crew chief) Rodney Childers and the crew as what he did on the race track. They really enjoyed his input and his professional approach, and he was a great teammate to Martin Truex Jr. and Clint Bowyer.

“Those guys were really impressed with how he engaged with them and managed his race car. Brian is a great young driver who is hungry to show what he can do. In my mind, he earned these extra races with his approach and attitude, and I’m so happy we were able to offer them. Brian’s contribution to the team has continued the momentum Rodney and Mark Martin created pushing the No. 55 up to eighth in owner points.”

Mark Martin will drive the No. 55 in 24 races plus the All- star race.

Vickers will be in the 55 for the second time in Sunday’s Goody’s Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville, a track where he infamously participated in a series of cautions last fall after an altercation with Matt Kenseth.

“Matt wrecked me, and I’m sure he regrets it, and I wrecked him back, and I wish it hadn’t happened, but that’s the end of it,” Vickers said. “For me, it was a lesson learned. My goal this year is for that to go away – for that to become a non-issue, and that’s what Bristol was for me, and I can’t thank Michael enough for that opportunity.

“My goal this weekend is to make it disappear again so that when we’re back here in the next race we’re talking about a great run at Martinsville, and everybody completely forgets about the other one.”

Mike Hembree is NASCAR Editor for SPEED.com and has been covering motorsports for 30 years. He is a six-time winner of the National Motorsports Press Association Writer of the Year Award.
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