CORNELIUS, N.C. — Brian Vickers has overcome blood clots twice in his life. He’s taking steps to make sure others are just as fortunate.
The Michael Waltrip Racing driver will pilot the No. 55 TREATMYCLOT.com Aaron’s Toyota in Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Auto Club Speedway.
He’ll also kickoff Blood Clot Awareness Month with Janssen to enhance the public’s understanding about the problem that twice sidelined his racing career.
Vickers missed most of the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup season recovering from blood clots in his legs and around his lungs. He returned to competition in 2011 and earned his third career victory driving the Aaron’s Dream Machine in July 2013. In October, the discovery of a blood clot in his right calf, after wearing a walking boot, sidelined him for the final four races. He’s returned full-time in 2014 on a mission to win races and help race fans know the warning signs and treatment for blood clots.
BRIAN VICKERS ON BLOOD CLOTS: “I completed my treatment and my doctors and NASCAR cleared me before Daytona. I’m totally focused on winning now, but I’ve also teamed up with Janssen to share the risks for deep vein thrombosis and get the word out about the risk of clots. I’m telling everyone to go to www.TREATMYCLOT.COM to learn more about blood clots and information that can help everyone. March is Blood Clot Awareness Month so we are running a special paint scheme this weekend in Fontana to promote greater awareness about the dangers of blood clots. Janssen is also stepping up sponsoring the Nationwide race on Saturday with the TREATMYCLOT.COM 300. You know I’ve been fortunate over the last few years to have doctors, friends, family and medicine to help me overcome this. This is just a way to give back and help others.”
VICKERS ON PUBLIC MESSAGE: “I want people to be mindful of what the signs and symptoms are. Visit www.TREATMYCLOT.COM to learn about the warning signs and if you experience any of the signs or symptoms talk to your doctor. That’s the best thing to do. I’m always mindful and take precautions. When you’re taking long flights, you stand up and you walk around. That’s not just for me, everyone should do that. Obviously I keep an eye out for signs and symptoms, but my last incident was a provoked incident. I had to wear an ankle brace for a month, which is known to create clots. In those situations in the future, I will be more mindful and probably more careful and maybe try to get ahead of it. Other than that I just live my life and go racing.”
NOTES:
· NO. 55 CHASSIS: Primary 797 has not raced. Backup 779 – finished third at Atlanta in 2013 with Martin Truex Jr. behind the wheel.
NO. 55 CREW CHIEF BILLY SCOTT: The Daytona 500 marked the first race for No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Crew Chief Billy Scott. The 36-year-old began racing motorcycles as a 5-year-old and stock cars when he turned 15. He worked in the truck series as a mechanic before he returned to college to obtain an engineering degree. After graduating in 2005 Scott worked at Robert Yates Racing and began as an engineer at MWR in 2008. He has served exclusively as the No. 55 team’s lead engineer the last two seasons.
