CORNELIUS, N.C. — No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine driver Brian Vickers knows Saturday night at Richmond International Raceway is his final chance to earn a berth in NASCAR’s 2014 Chase for the Sprint Cup.
The No. 55 team must win the 400-lap race to join 15 other teams in the 10-race playoff that begins Sept. 14 at Chicagoland Speedway.
The Michael Waltrip Racing driver believes he’ll compete for the victory Saturday if his car is as good as it was in April. The Aaron’s Dream Machine finished 12th after running third with 26 laps remaining. Vickers expects the closing laps of Saturday night’s race to be as wild as any of the season.
VICKERS ON SATURDAY NIGHT’S RICHMOND RACE: “I think it’s going to be a battle. It’s going to be intense. It’s not just about the guys on the cusp for points, it’s about anyone that can win. The intensity is going to kick in. To be honest with you, it’s been there all year. I think that every week you show up, your goal is to win and you do everything you can to try to get that win.”
APRIL RICHMOND RACE: “We had a really, really good long run car there once we got it right. We were just on the splitter way too hard at the beginning of the race. Once we got that up and got the car freed up we were really, really good and maybe the best car late in the race.”
EXPECTATIONS: “The end of the last race was just mayhem which is what I expect at the end of Saturday night’s race with so much on the line. I thought we had a chance to run down the leaders and get the win in April, but it just wasn’t our night. I hope this time it will be our night.”
THE RICHMOND TRACK: “I think just about every driver likes to race at Richmond. Heck, just about every fan likes Richmond. They get to see us go fast, but still be able to run side-by-side in the corners and maybe even do a little beating on each other. Drivers like it because you have your choice of different lines through the corner like you saw last week at Atlanta.”
NOTES:
· CHASSIS: Primary: 814 Clint Bowyer drove this chassis to a 16th-place finish at Indy. Backup: 812 finished 43rd at Dover with Vickers.
No. 55 CREW:
Billy Scott Crew Chief
Ryan Langley Front Tire Changer
Chris Hall Front Tire Carrier
Shannon Myers Rear Tire Changer
Blake Haugland Rear Tire Carrier
Wes Evans Jack Man
Jeff Kerr Gas Man
Steve Channing Car Chief
David Cropps Interior Mechanic
Roman Pemberton Spotter
Brandon Pope Race Engineer
Joe Bisson 2nd Engineer
Jeremy Sharpley Shock Specialist
Jacen Johns Front Mechanic
Joe Zanolini Rear Mechanic
Kevin White Tire Specialist
Denny Chandler Engine Tuner
Tim Bruce Engine Engineer
Glenn Shano Truck Driver
Al Nelson 2nd Truck Driver
· No. 55 CREW CHIEF BILLY SCOTT: The 2014 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 served exclusively as the No. 55 team’s lead engineer the last two seasons.
· TELEVISION:
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER:
@brianlvickers
@mw55
@mwrteam
@aaronssports
@aaronsinc
@toyotaracing
· AARON’S RACING REWARDS: Join Aaron’s Racing Rewards and take advantage of exclusive member benefits such as at-track discounts from Michael Waltrip Racing and FanVision. Become a member by Sept. 26 and you’ll be automatically entered in our Racing Rewards Sweepstakes where the grand prize is a $5,000 shopping spree at Aaron’s! Visit www.aarons.com/racingrewards for more information.
· AARON’S INC: Aaron’s joined MWR in 2000 serving as a primary sponsor in Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series races. The Atlanta-based company, with more than 2,130 stores across the country, helps customers own the life they want. Aaron’s carries only the best brand names in furniture, electronics, and appliances with a variety of flexible payment options. It’s really easy to “Own It” at Aaron’s with customers who are now pre-approved for up to $2,500 in merchandise without needing credit. Visit Aarons.com to find a store near you.
· #ASKMWR: Throughout race weekends in 2014 MWR will collect questions hash-tagged #AskMWR on its @MWRteam Twitter handle. No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Jackman Wes Evans will host a three-minute video each Wednesday on www.michaelwaltripracing.com featuring MWR experts answering the best fan questions from the weekend.
