MWR adds to Vickers schedule; run at Bristol validates efforts

Brian Vickers and Michael Waltrip speak to the media at Martinsville Speedway.
Credit: Tyler Barrick/Getty Images for NASCAR
Brian Vickers admits that in his career he has made some mistakes but moving on, the focus is in the present.

Vickers and Michael Waltrip Racing originally started the season with six signed races including both events at Bristol, Martinsville and New Hampshire. After Vickers’ debut at Bristol netted a fifth place finish, team owner Michael Waltrip announced today:

“(Brian Vickers) was going to run six races for us and we’re here to announce today that he’s going to run eight now. He is going to run both the road course races in the No. 55 car as well. Brian came to MWR (Michael Waltrip Racing) and made a statement, showed not only our organization what he’s capable of, but the whole world. We felt like that was deserving to let him run some more races. Eight races, if I do the math properly, we’re up to a quarter of the season. Keep chipping away, keep going young man and who knows, you might have them all one day.”

Waltrip’s faith in Vickers highlights the renewed confidence in Vickers himself. After his Bristol finish he was asked in today’s media q&a if that gave him a sense of validation.

“…it meant a lot to have that validation for me, personally, to get back in the car and do well,” Vickers said.

Since Martin had declined to participate in the road course events, Vickers was the obvious choice. 

Waltrip explained, “It was pretty much a no-brainer to say run those other two as well. Perfect match because Mark deserves a lot of credit for that team and then Brian said, ‘Ok, I see what Mark’s doing, I can do that.’"

Looking to get past last year’s Martinsville accident with Matt Kenseth, Vickers said, “Matt (Kenseth) wrecks me, or Matt wrecked me, and I’m sure he regrets it and I wrecked him back and I wish it hadn’t happened, but that’s the end of it.”

"My goal this year is for that to go away -- for that to becoming a non-issue and that’s what Bristol was for me and I can’t thank Michael enough for that opportunity. My goal this weekend is to make it disappear again, so that when we’re back here in the next race we’re talking a great run at Martinsville and everybody completely forgets about the other one."

The full schedule for the No. 55 car is:
Apr. 14 - Texas - Martin
Apr. 22 - Kansas - Martin
May 6 - Talladega - Waltrip
May 12 - Darlington - Martin
May 19 - All Star Race- Martin
May 27 - Charlotte - Martin
June 3 - Dover - Martin
June 10 - Pocono - Martin
June 17- Michigan - Martin
June 24 - Infineon - Vickers
June 30 - Kentucky - Waltrip
July 7- Daytona - Waltrip
July 15 - New Hampshire - Vickers
July 29 - Indianapolis - Martin
Aug. 5 - Pocono - Martin
Aug. 12 - Watkins Glen - Vickers
Aug. 19 - Michigan - Martin
Aug. 25 - Bristol - Vickers
Sept. 2 - Atlanta - Martin
Sept. 8 - Richmond - Martin
Sept. 16 - Chicago - Martin
Sept. 23 - New Hampshire - Vickers
Sept. 30 - Dover - Martin
Oct. 7 - Talladega - Waltrip
Oct. 13 - Charlotte - Martin
Oct. 21 - Kansas - Martin
Oct. 28 - Martinsville- Vickers
Nov. 4  - Texas - Martin
Nov. 11 - Phoenix - Martin
Nov. 18 - Homestead - Martin
MWR adds to Vickers schedule; run at Bristol validates efforts MWR adds to Vickers schedule; run at Bristol validates efforts Reviewed by Unknown on Friday, March 30, 2012 Rating: 5