By Sarah Handy, Staff Writer
In this week’s edition of Throwback Thursday, Kickin’ The Tires relives the race where Brian Vickers surprised the field by snapping at 75 race winless streak to win his third Cup Series race of his career.
The date was July 14, 2013 and NASCAR driver Brian Vickers was competing part-time for Michael Waltrip Racing in the No. 55 Aaron’s Toyota Camry.
Vickers was making only his eighth start of the season.
In fact, it would be a start that would turn out to be a very memorable one.
It wouldn’t come without adversity though.
Vickers lost a lap early on due to a penalty when he drove away from his pit stall with a wrench on the deck lid.
However, he was able to gain his lap back due to a wave around at the midpoint of the Camping World RV Sales 301.
Vickers would come back to speed away from second place Kyle Busch in a green-white checkered finish in overtime finishing .582 seconds ahead of Busch.
The former 2003 Busch Series Champion had previously been sidelined multiple times in his career due to blood clots, along with lung and heart problems.
The win meant a lot to Vickers who at the time was trying to secure a full-time ride for the 2014 season.
“Nothing is guaranteed in life. I’ve learned that the hard way. Even when you think it’s done, it’s not always done, Vickers said.”
(Photo: NHMS)
The race was Vickers first win since his 2009 victory at Michigan in the Carfax 400.
A race in which he won from the pole while driving the No. 83 for Red Bull Racing.
That event marked the team’s first win in the MENCS, as well as the first victory for Toyota at Michigan.
Where he is now:
Brian Vickers did secure a full-time ride the following season (2014) with Michael Waltrip Racing, driving the No. 55 Aaron’s Toyota Camry.
Unfortunately, in 2015 Vickers saw his career put on hold yet again as he would be sidelined for part of the season with medical issues.
While he would return for some races with MWR, he yet again ended up sidelined due to medication he was taking.
He would not return to the No. 55 as David Ragan would take over the driving duties.
Vickers would return to racing in 2016 filling in for an injured Tony Stewart in the No. 14 for Stewart-Haas Racing for some races along with Ty Dillon.
His best finish of the 2016 season was a 7th place finish in the STP 500 from Martinsville Speedway.
The Thomasville, North Carolina native has yet to compete in the MENCS since 2016.
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.