By Sarah Handy, Staff Writer
In this week’s edition of Flashback Friday, Kickin’ The Tires relives when NASCAR driver Brian Vickers won the CARFAX 400 in the No.83 Red Bull Racing Toyota from the Irish Hills of Michigan International Speedway on August 16, 2009.
It came down to who could save enough fuel to capture the victory and Brian Vickers gas tank would go dry once the race was over, but the upside was, he was on his way to victory lane to celebrate.
Vickers didn’t dominate the race, he started from the pole but only led 12 of the 200 scheduled laps.
(Photo: Harry How/Getty Images)
With 50 laps remaining, crew chief Ryan Pemberton asked Vickers to conserve fuel in hopes of not having to make a last-minute pit stop for fuel.
“He asked me to give him two laps and I gave him five, so he said, ‘Go get it and do what you did here last time,’” Vickers said. “It was a great call. We also took just two tires on our last pit stop to keep our track position and gamble on fuel.”
Fellow competitor, and reigning three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion, Jimmie Johnson looked poised to take the victory after leading 165 of 200 laps, but with just over two laps remaining in the event, Johnson would run out of fuel.
With Johnson having to pit for fuel, Vickers took the lead.
That’s what I’m talking about!” Vickers said after crossing the finish line. “Great call, guys. Great job.”
The victory was the second of Vickers Cup career after winning at Talladega Superspeedway in October of 2006.
Furthermore, it marked the first win for Red Bull Racing and the first for Toyota at Michigan.
(Photo: Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR)
It was the ending to a great weekend as Vickers had finished second to Brad Keselowski in the NASCAR Nationwide Carfax 250 on Saturday.
Vickers started that race from the pole as well, and became the first driver to ever win two poles in the same weekend at MIS.
Career Update:
The Thomasville, North Carolina native has yet to compete in the MENCS since 2016.
Vickers has earned three wins in NASCAR’s premiere series, 29 Top-5s, 78 Top-10s, 12 pole awards and led 1,242 laps.
He’s still involved in the sport and has done work as an analyst for NASCAR with NASCAR on NBC.
Vickers continues to be an avid traveler with his wife Sarah.
With his wife that was a sex handler for Pedophile Jeffery Epstein?
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was not about his wife. We understand the sensitivities but everyone is innocent until proven guilty and we don’t know the complete circumstances in this matter. I do know that Brian Vickers was a racecar driver and there have been no accusations against him. — Jerry Jordan/Kickin’ the Tires