Fast Facts: Brian Vickers

Credit: Getty Images for NASCAR/Rainier Ehrhardt

Brian Vickers has a busy 2013 ahead of him: he’ll be driving part-time in the Sprint Cup Series for Michael Waltrip Racing as well as driving full-time in the Nationwide Series for Joe Gibbs Racing. Learn more about this North Carolina native in this week’s Fast Facts.

• Brian Lee Vickers was born October 24, 1983 in Thomasville, North Carolina. He began racing go-karts in 1994, winning 80 races and three championships in the World Karting Association over the span of three seasons. He moved up to the Allison Legacy Series in 1998, winning five races, and the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Racing Series in 1999.
• In 2000 and 2001, Vickers raced in the USAR Pro Cup Series (now the Rev-Oil Pro Cup Series). He won Rookie of the Year on the strength of two wins in 2000 and finished second in points with five wins in 2001.
• Vickers made his top-tier NASCAR debut in 2001 in the Busch Series (now Nationwide Series) in a family-owned car, running 25 races for the team between 2001 and 2002; his best finish was seventh (Richmond – 2002). In 2003, he was hired by Hendrick Motorsports to run the No. 5 in the series, going on to win the championship and become the youngest champion in the Nationwide Series at age 20. Vickers also competed in five Cup Series races for Hendrick in 2003 before making the jump to full time in the Cup Series in 2004.
• Vickers left Hendrick Motorsports for Red Bull Racing following the 2006 season, spending five years with the team before it closed up shop at the end of the 2011 season. Vickers missed most of the 2010 season after blood clots were discovered in his leg, finger and lungs.
• In 263 Cup Series races (through 2012), Vickers has two wins, 62 top 10s and 11 poles. In 118 Nationwide Series races (through 2012), he has three wins, 60 top 10s and four poles. In 2012, Vickers also competed in the 6 Hours of Spa and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
• Find out more about Vickers at his website, www.brianvickers.com.