Vickers on the move?
Fresh off the wires:
CHARLOTTE — Brian Vickers got permission from Hendrick Motorsports to look for a new ride. "Brian came to us recently and expressed his desire to explore opportunities outside our organization," Hendrick spokesman Jesse Essex said Thursday. "Although he is under contract, we have given him permission to do so." Car owner Rick Hendrick has been committed to the 22-year-old Vickers, and recently gave him a multiyear extension that had not been previously announced. That contract will run through 2009. So it's unclear why Vickers now wants to leave one of NASCAR's super-teams. Hendrick also fields cars for four-time series champion Jeff Gordon — whom Vickers is close friends with — points leader Jimmie Johnson, and 21-year-old hotshot Kyle Busch.
The story continues here.
So what out there is better than Hendrick's No. 25? The Robert Yates 88? The Ganassi 42 if Mears leaves? A Red Bull ride?
What exactly is going through this kid's mind? Anyone have a guess?
Comments (8)
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The impatience of a 22 year old is going through his mind, my only regret is that it is not Kyle Busch that is looking to leave.
I'm not much a superstition, but perhaps a number change would help. The 25 has done very little since being driven by Tim Richmond.
Ken Schaeder 4 or 5 wins
Jerry Nadeau 1 win
Joe Nemecheck 1 win
I think that is it since either '86 or '87, whenever Tim Richmond came back for that half of season.
In all seriousness I hope he stays. I guess the bigger question to ask is why Hendrick would being willing to let him walk? And in particular after giving him the extension through 2009.
Posted on June 8, 2006 2:13 PM
Vicker's being young and lacking confidence in his ability as a result of no wins probably went to Hendricks requiring an affirmation of his status, the extension notwithstanding, said he wanted to pursue other opps and Hendricks said go ahead and get lost. Vicker's just got a lesson in the hard and fast way's of bitness in the racing industry.
Of course, it appears to me that Hendricks is putting most of the money and talent into the Busch & Johnson group. Jeff G has apparently fallen off the edge of the earth as far as being a factor in NASCAR.
Posted on June 8, 2006 2:55 PM
I don't think its a bad move for Vickers. Kyle Busch is the youngster that Hendrick wants to push, leaving Brian as the forth dog. The Ganassi 42 would be a step down and the way things are going, the 88 isn't much better. That leaves Toyota who is looking for a young guy as the future of their program. Vickers comes with some Cup experience and is still just 22.
Posted on June 8, 2006 3:31 PM
There are only a couple realistic options, Red Bull or the rumored MB2/DEI merger. (which I don't believe is a rumor)
But there is something to be said for Hendrick cutting him loose after the extension. Say what you will about the team but the man knows talent and what it takes to win.
Having someone on the payroll with a publicly expressed desire to leave while still under contract isn't in the best interests of his team of Vickers.
Ganassi (and the rest of the owners) should take note if he is ever faced with a "Mears like" problem again. Don't drag it out, cut the strings and move on.
Posted on June 8, 2006 6:51 PM
If Vickers leaves -- and you can make the argument that he's as good as gone now -- I'm still trying to figure out who Hendrick might want to put in the No. 25 car. Anyone have a guess? Or is Hendrick going to be a three-car shop? It might make sense for Hendrick to spend some more energy on the 24, which is in danger of falling out of the top 10.
Posted on June 9, 2006 11:32 AM
Just saw this on NASCAR.com: Vickers says he isn't coming back because the No. 25 car, ah, stinks. (My words, not his, but it's true - the No. 25 hasn't won since the last race of the 2000 season back when Jerry Nadeau was driving the MichaelHoligan.com car.)
Here's the story.
My guess is Toyota: They need someone young with an upside. You could do a lot worse than Vickers.
Marty Smith's story throws out the Mears-to-the-25 story. Is Hendrick going to end up with a that-much-better driver? I dunno.
Posted on June 9, 2006 11:44 AM
John I hate to do this again... but Joe Nemechek won in Richmond in the spring of 2003 with the 25.
Posted on June 9, 2006 4:52 PM
Yikes, Matt. You're right. That's what I get for not fact-checking my initial info.
Nemechek was driving the UAW-Delphi car, in case anyone's wondering.
Posted on June 9, 2006 5:21 PM