Brian Vickers Fans

It didn't take long before Vickers started competing in WKA events (World Karting Association). This proved to be the right move. Between 1994-1997,
the youngster won more than 80 races across the country.

In 1998 with his newly formed family team BLV Motorsports, he moved to the Allison Legacy car Series. "

"Some of our primary goals to help gain experience were to race at different tracks all of the time and not stay in any one series longer than necessary. But I had to prove that I could be competitive, earn the respect of competitors twice my age and win, before we ever considered moving up."

In 2000 at the age of 16, he moved up to the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series. This series runs cars that are similar to the cars the NASCAR Busch Series. The track time gave Vickers valuable experience that he helped him when the decision was made to run a handful of Busch Series races.

At the age of 17 while finishing up the season in the Pro Cup Series he made four Busch Series starts. His first start came at Milwaukee where he started 30th and finished 25th.

In 2002, the family-owned team moved part time to the Busch Series running 21 races. Not wanting to push aside his schooling, Brian learned to find a fine balance between the two.

"Balancing the travel and racing with my schoolwork was always challenging growing up," he says, "but my education came first. My parents and I had rules in place to ensure that and it's something I still believe strongly in today."

In May 2002, Vickers graduated with high honors from Trinity (N.C.) High School, albeit a semester early; and raced at Lowe's Motor Speedway the same night of his graduation.

Hard times would hit Vickers and his family owned team as promising sponsorship disappeared. But things turned around thanks to a string of strong runs late in the season that caught the eye of the late Ricky Hendrick.

Brian states that "Ricky and I struck up a dialogue and eventually he decided he wanted me to drive his racecars." Over time, the duo convinced Ricky's father and owner of Hendrick Motorsports, Rick Hendrick that Brian was the right driver to join Hendrick Motorsports.

In 2003, Brian would go on to win three races en route to the series championship in the No. 5 Hendrick car. This made Brian Vickers and Ricky Hendrick the youngest owner-driver combination in the history of NASCAR. The younger Hendrick was 23 at the time.

In 2004 Vickers was moved up to the NEXTEL Cup Series full time in the 25 car. Brian showed promise, winning the Nextel Open which is part of the Nextel All-Star Challenge. He also claimed two poles and the best points finish for the No. 25 team in ten years. The real breakthrough would come in the fall of 2006, when at the age of 22 Brian won his first career Nextel Cup race at Talladega.

Though controversial, the dramatic win would change Brian's attitude and ultimately confirmed to Team Red Bull that they hired the right driver.

2008 will be an adventure with many ups and down for Vickers and his fans. Toyota and Red Bull Racing have already proved they have made strides over the off season, now it's time to see what they can do with their equipment.