Michael Waltrip Racing announced Friday morning that Brian Vickers will not compete in the Sprint Cup Series race this weekend after a recurrence of blood clots that will require Vickers to take blood thinners. A timetable for his return has not been determined.
Brett Moffitt will replace Vickers in the Michael Waltrip Racing No. 55 Toyota in Sunday’s race at Auto Club Speedway and “for the foreseeable future.”
“First and foremost our thoughts are with Brian and his family,” said Michael Waltrip, MWR founder and co-owner. “He isn’t just our race car driver, he is our friend and we know the NASCAR community will continue to rally around Brian.”
“We are fortunate to have Brett Moffitt in our system,” he continued, “and marveled at his great drive in Atlanta three weeks ago, so we know he can get the job done in the No. 55 this weekend. As this news is very fresh and the situation is very fluid, we can only plan for this weekend at this point.”
However when Waltrip and executive vice president Ty Norris spoke with the media Friday morning at Auto Club Speedway, Waltrip stated that Moffitt would be in the car “for the foreseeable future, Brett’s our guy.”
Vickers has already begun taking blood thinning medication and will not be allowed to race while on them.
He released a statement Friday saying, “Thankfully, because I recognized the signs and symptoms, the doctors caught this early and I’m going to be ok. I had finished my treatment for the clot I had in my leg back in 2013 and I haven’t needed to be on a blood thinner for a clot in my leg or lung since,” said Vickers. “Now I won’t be able to race because I’ll need to be back on a blood thinner. I’m going to follow doctor’s orders and do everything I need to do to get well.”
Coincidentally, Vickers was supposed to work with Janssen Pharmaceuticals, who is sponsoring the No. 55 this weekend, to support Blood Clot Awareness Month.
“I’m disappointed I can’t be there but if there is a silver lining in all of this, hopefully what’s happened to me will help to raise awareness on this important health issue,” Vickers said.
Vickers first developed blood clots in 2010, competing in only 11 races. In 2013 he missed the last four races of the year due to blood clots in his calf. He also missed the first two races of this season while recovering from heart surgery he had during the off season.
Concerning Vickers well being and state of mind, Waltrip said, “He feels really good and he’s really sad.”
When asked if this recent health issue could possibly end Vickers’ racing career, Waltrip went on to add, “I know his heart and his passion. He would not say that and so therefore I can’t say that. I guarantee that he would tell you he’ll be back in a couple of weeks or a couple of months or whatever the decision that comes from his doctors that it will be. He’s certainly overcome a lot and I expect him to be able to overcome this. Obviously this is a setback for our team and for Brian. I think this morning we’re just glad Brian’s okay.”
Vickers is a 2003 XFINITY champion and has 318 Sprint Cup starts with three wins, 12 poles and 77 top-10 finishes in the Sprint Cup series.
