CORNELIUS, N.C. – Racing has been Brian Vickers’ passion of choice since a young age when he climbed behind the wheel of his family’s race cars. It led to fame and fortune as trophies filled the trophy case.
But battles with life threatening illness in adulthood made the young racer turn his passion towards health.
After overcoming health obstacles himself, he has continued to share his journey to help and inspire others.
This weekend Vickers combines his passion for health and racing at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif. where he’ll drive the No. 55 Janssen Toyota Camry for Michael Waltrip Racing.
Since last year Vickers has partnered with Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. a company that works to solve some of the most important unmet medical needs of our time in oncology, immunology, neuroscience, infectious diseases and vaccines, and cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.
“Since Janssen entered the sport in 2014, as the official Cardiovascular Partner of NASCAR, they have helped to educate the racing community on serious health conditions and provided some great resources for race fans, said Vickers.
“One of my favorite tools they provide is Care4Today, a great, free app that alerts you about when and how you need to take your medicine. It really helped keep me on track with my treatments. I hope that others will download it too.”
In addition to its relationship with Vickers and MWR, Janssen will sponsor Saturday’s NASCAR XFINITY race at Auto Club Speedway. In 2013 Janssen also sponsored races at Auto Club and Chicago Speedways.
Please visit JanssenPharmaceuticalsInc.com for more information.
NOTES:
· CHASSIS: Primary: 808– In 2014, Vickers finished 26th at Darlington, 42nd and 19th at the Michigan races, 15th at Dover in September and 23rd at Homestead. Backup: 813—Clint Bowyer drove chassis to 17th at Charlotte in May, 10th and sixth at Michigan races and ninth at Dover in September.
· VICKERS HEALTH HISTORY: A heart patch inserted in 2010 allowed Vickers to race in only 11 of 36 races. Blood clots in 2013 forced him to miss three races. On Dec. 13, 2014 Vickers underwent surgery to repair the 2010 patch. Vickers said, “At the hospital they discovered my body was rejecting an artificial patch that was inserted in 2010 to fix a hole in my heart. The procedure was painful but it went great and they feel better about my heart than before.” In 2015, Michael Waltrip drove the No. 55 at Daytona and Brett Moffitt raced in Atlanta before Vickers took over in Las Vegas.
· CREW CHIEF BILLY SCOTT: Scott 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. The 36-year-old served exclusively as the No. 55 team’s lead engineer before taking over crew chief duties in 2014.
· 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
Kevin White
Front Mechanic
Joe Zanolini
Rear Mechanic
Scott Swift
Tire Specialist
Kirk Butterfield
TRD
Tim Bruce
TRD
Stump Lewis
Truck Driver
Al Nelson
2nd Truck Driver
· FOLLOW US ON TWITTER:
@brianlvickers
@mw55
@mwrteam
@toyotaracing
· TELEVISION SCHEDULE:
Friday, March 20
3 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice, FOX Sports 1
4:30 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series practice, FOX Sports 1
5:30 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub: Weekend Edition, FOX Sports 1
6 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series final practice, FOX Sports 1
7:30 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying, FOX Sports 1
Saturday, March 21
3 a.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice (re-air), FOX Sports 1
4:30 a.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying (re-air), FOX Sports 1
9 a.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying (re-air), FOX Sports 1
10:30 a.m., TUDOR United Sports Car Championship – Sebring, FOX Sports 1
11:30 a.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice, FOX Sports 2
12:30 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying, FOX Sports 1
2 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub: Weekend Edition, FOX Sports 1
2:30 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series final practice, FOX Sports 1
3:30 p.m., NASCAR Race Day: XFINITY Series, FOX Sports 1
4 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series Drive4Clots.com 300, FOX Sports 1
6:30 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub: Weekend Edition, FOX Sports 1
Sunday, March 22
2 p.m., NASCAR Race Day, FOX Sports 1
3 p.m., NASCAR Race Day: Auto Club, FOX
3:30 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Auto Club 400, FOX
3:30 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Auto Club 400, FOX Deportes
10 p.m., NASCAR Victory Lane, FOX Sports 1
