Vickers finds victory lane
LOUDON, N.H. — Stuck in a hospital bed, Brian Vickers wanted to live another day.
Once he recovered, he hungered for a competitive ride.
And once he landed a solid seat, well, Vickers simply had to win.
Even when life tossed obstacles in Vickers’ path, his determined spirit never waned. After four years of health scares and unemployment put his promising career in doubt, Vickers kept pushing toward the finish line. He got there Sunday as the surprise winner at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
“Coming here and sitting in Victory Lane, just makes it one of the most special events in my life,” Vickers said.
He had plenty of drivers in the series pulling for this comeback.
One by one, they saluted Vickers with a wave from the car or a back slap on the way to Victory Lane.
Close friend Jimmie Johnson, a five-time Cup champion, pumped his fist out the window in pure happiness as if he’d won a sixth title.
Vickers did all he could to savor the unforgettable scene.
“When you have so much love and support around you,” Vickers said, “it makes all the difference in the world.”
Vickers even tried to celebrate with the fans, though the New Hampshire gates wouldn’t open to the grandstands. That’s OK. He had a pretty big mob waiting for him — even his fiancee, who had left the track to catch a ride home, only to reverse course and make it back just in time to greet him.
About the only key cog missing was owner Michael Waltrip. Waltrip and co-owner Rob Kauffman were in Europe this weekend for the 20th annual Goodwood Festival of Speed in England.
London, Loudon. Off by a letter.
Vickers drives a part-time schedule for Michael Waltrip Racing and shares the No. 55 Toyota with Waltrip and Mark Martin. His win made him the No. 1 contender for a full-time ride at MWR in 2014.
“Wins help a lot of business issues. So this was a great day for that,” MWR general manager Ty Norris said. “He’s been our focus. We would love to have him in that car.”
Vickers snapped a 75-race winless streak and hadn’t won since the August 2009 race at Michigan. He won his first career Cup race in August 2006 at Talladega Superspeedway.
