TOYOTA NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS)
Brian Vickers — Notes & Quotes
Martinsville Speedway – April 5, 2013
BRIAN VICKERS, No. 55 Jet Edge Toyota Camry, Michael Waltrip Racing
Are you looking forward to the opportunities in the coming weeks?
“It’s good to be back at Martinsville. I’m really pumped to be in the Jet Edge No. 55 this week. We had a good run here last year. Working with these guys has always been a pleasure and I’ve always liked Martinsville. This is the first place that I ran in a stock car — Allison Legacy car to be exact. It’s a fun track. Next week I’m going to be in the 11 car, which I’m obviously excited about, but sad how the opportunity came about. I know what it’s like to be pulled out of your car for health reasons — I’ve been in that boat before and wish Denny (Hamlin) a speedy recovery. I will do the best job I can for him and FedEx and everyone at Gibbs (Joe Gibbs Racing) and Toyota until he returns.”
What are the implications of Sprint Cup veterans racing full time in the Nationwide Series?
“I don’t know what the overall implications are, but I think it’s good for the series. I can tell you that I’m having a lot of fun. There’s always been Cup guys in the series. 10 years ago when I was racing in the series, that’s who I was battling every week for wins was Cup drivers. Racing against Mark (Martin) and Matt Kenseth and a lot of different guys. It was great experience for me. I think that looking back at it personally when the role was reversed — I think it was the best experience that ever happened as opposed to not racing against any Cup guys.”
How big is the opportunity to drive the No. 11 Toyota starting at Texas?
“It’s a huge opportunity for me. I feel like I’m very fortunate to have both of these opportunities — to be in the 55, which I consider a great car and then to go drive the 11. I welcome the opportunity and the challenge — I look forward to being in it. Obviously, that team and that car have run good for a long time. Darian (Grubb, 11 crew chief) has won championships and he’s a very good crew chief — I’ve known him for a long time so I look forward to working with him as well and everyone at FedEx. Again, I reiterate it’s very sad how it happened because I’ve been on the receiving end of this. I’m happy to jump in and do the best I can.”
What can Joey Logano expect from Tony Stewart?
“Tony (Stewart) is a very passionate racer and can have a temper at times — the truth is we all can. Tony is typically more vocal about his, but I think that all drivers get upset in certain situations. I’ve always liked racing with Tony — the good, the bad and the ugly. We’ve had a lot of fun over the years and we’ve had our moments on and off the race track, but we’ve always worked through them and I have a lot of respect for him. I wish Joey (Logano) the best of luck in the world.”
How much will your performance in the No. 11determine a future full time Cup ride?
“I think your performance on the race track every week has a bearing on what happens the following year. That’s not unique to me by the way. I think that’s the situation for every driver on the race track. Your performance week to week, year to year always has a bearing on your future possibilities as an athlete, a pro-athlete, as a race car driver or whatever it is you do — as a writer, I’m sure some of you understand how that works. Do I think that my performance in the 11 is going to have a bearing? Of course it will. Do I think that means that I have to go win to get a ride next year? No. I want to go win, that’s our plan. I think that it will have an impact, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that it will. What that impact is has yet to be determined, but hopefully it’s a positive impact and it will only contribute to other good races in the 55 that we’re going to have this year and we’ve had this year. Obviously, the opportunity to drive the 55 with everyone at MWR (Michael Waltrip Racing) — I’ve enjoyed it there. I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to be in two great cars at two great teams. I’m splitting my time between Joe Gibbs Racing and Michael Waltrip Racing — two great organizations and obviously both with Toyota. I love working with Rob (Kauffman, co-owner, MWR) and Michael (Waltrip, co-owner, MWR) and all the guys there and Rodney (Childers, 55 crew chief). I’ve really found a home there. I haven’t worked with the 11 guys yet, but I’ve known Darian (Grubb, 11 crew chief) and a lot of guys on the team and I look forward to that opportunity as well.”
Will you be able to test in the No. 11?
“I don’t think we’re going to get the chance to test. It hasn’t been brought up to me — actually we have the test on Thursday in Texas. We’re there a day early so I guess that’s somewhat like a test and I look forward to it to work with those guys in that type of environment. Obviously, to work with them on a race weekend with the limited testing schedule, there’s not a lot you can really do. It’s not like it’s my first time in a Cup car or the first time at Texas or the first time — it’s the first time with that team and I’ve known Darian (Grubb, 11 crew chief) since we raced together in Hooters Pro Cup. I’ve known Darian a long time and I’ve worked with him at different organizations. I suspect it will be fine once we get there.”
How exciting was it to find out you would be in the No. 11 starting at Texas?
“I was actually overseas so I didn’t know about any of the stuff and the drama that everyone went through — I told J.D. (Gibbs, president, JGR) before I left and I told Rob (Kauffman, co-owner, MWR) before I left, I said, ‘Listen, I’m happy however you want to sort this out and I feel honored that I would be wanted in either car and I’m happy to drive either one so you guys figure it out and let me know. I’ve got some things to take care of — an off-weekend with some friends and family.’ I woke up to the news and was like, ‘Okay, great.’ For me, it was a no lose situation. They are two phenomenal organizations — the opportunity to drive for Aaron’s in the 55 at MWR, the opportunity to drive for FedEx in the 11 at JGR — how could I go wrong. I wasn’t going to stress about it. I just told them to figure it out and let me know. I woke up and I heard I was going to be in the 55 and the 11 so I was like, ‘Okay, great.”
What was it like to have to watch your car race that first weekend you weren’t driving?
“For me, it was very tough. The first time you’re not in your car — you grow up and you watch a lot of races that you’re not in, but not ones that you’re supposed to be in when your car is going around the race track. It’s not going to be an easy thing for Denny (Hamlin), but he’ll move past it. I think the best thing for him right now is knowing that he’s going to get back in the car. The first time I saw my car go around the race track, I wasn’t sure if I was ever going to get back in it. So I’m sure his emotions are going to be a little different than mine. They would probably be different anyway even if the situations were the exact same. It’s a better question for Denny, but I’ve told him that it’s not going to be easy and he’s not going to like it, but at least you know it’s temporary and we’ll see you back soon.”
What are your thoughts on the history and tradition at Martinsville?
“I’d love to get a trophy. I don’t have one of those yet. We’ve come close. We’ve led laps, but we need to get a clock. I think it’s a beautiful piece. It’s one of the most unique and special trophies I think on the circuit. I know a few guys that have some and have one or two and they — it’s one of their prized trophies. The history here and some of the things that you talked about — obviously, the train. I grew up — I actually remembered coming here as a kid and watching races, standing down on the corners before pit road changed and they used to park cars down there and just watch the race and watch the trains go by. I don’t know, as a kid I always thoughts it was pretty cool the train went by the race track. It’s always been a special place for me whether it was coming as a fan, whether it was running my first stock car race here, running Late Models here and now running in the Cup Series here.”
Are you excited to know the No. 11 runs so well at Texas?
“I’ve learned the hard way that even when you think a track owes you something, it does not and it will remind you of that. But, I do feel like we’ve left a few on the table at Texas. In the Nationwide Series and Cup Series we’ve run really well there, sat on poles and had strong runs, but never quite been able to close it for a victory. The opportunity to be in the 11 car — they obviously have a good package for there — hopefully we can fix that next weekend.”
Do you agree with Tony Stewart that feuding is good for ticket sales and the sport?
“I agree. I think he’s right. I think that people want to see real life drama, you know? They want the good, the bad and the ugly. You want drama and you want to see raw emotions and sometimes you’re going to get them exactly the form and the shape and sometimes you’re not going to get less of it and sometimes you’re going get more of it. But, what people want is they want reality. They do want reality television. They want real. They don’t want planned reality. They want real people pushing themselves to the limit and expressing the raw emotions and you’re going to have feuds when you do that. You’ve got 43 guys fighting for one spot. I feel like that’s why they show up to the race track. They want to see good, hard racing, but they want to see real people fighting with everything they have.”
Could your time in the No. 11 be an audition for a possible fourth Joe Gibbs Racing car in the future?
“I think anything’s possible. I mean, they could clearly go to a fourth car, so could MWR (Michael Waltrip Racing) — so could a lot of teams. I found definitely that I enjoy both organizations. I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to run at Gibbs and MWR. I’d love the chance to be in the 55 next year and for some reason that doesn’t or can’t work out then maybe there’s an opportunity at Gibbs as well, as you pointed out. But, that’s so far off and it’s so many ifs and buts. For me right now, the focus is Martinsville and then the focus will be Texas and to go do the best I can. I think if we go out and run good and win and contend for wins and then the rest will take care of itself wherever it is.”
What is it like working with a team that has a rotation of drivers?
“I suppose it’s probably a better question for Rodney (Childers, crew chief) or the 55 team than me. You know, it’s interesting. I think that at first there’s a lot of concerns how that process is going to go, but then the reality is it’s not that bad, particularly if you have drivers that like somewhat similar setups. I think Rodney and the guys do a phenomenal job going back and forth between myself and Mark (Martin) and Michael (Waltrip). The good thing about the 11 is I know a lot of the guys on the team — some I’ve worked with and some I haven’t. I haven’t worked directly in a crew chief-driver role with Darian (Grubb, crew chief No. 11), but I’ve known him for a very long time and I worked with him at Hendrick (Motorsports), so we have a good communication and I think it will be fine.”
Who told you about the plans for the No. 11 and how did you find out?
“I got a call from — a text — from both sides, from (Joe) Gibbs (owner, JGR) and Rob (Kauffman, co-owner, MWR), Michael (Waltrip, co-owner, MWR), Ty (Norris, executive vice president, MWR) and J.D. (Gibbs, JGR president). I’d love to elaborate more. They just basically called and said, ‘Hey, here’s what we worked out.’ I was like, ‘Okay. Can’t wait. Let me know where to be.'”
