Red Bull Racing News

Updated: 2010

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Sorenson in No. 83 Red Bull car for 3 races: Reed Sorenson is scheduled to drive three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races for Red Bull Racing, but the organization may make more driver changes with it's No. 83 team as the season progresses. Sorenson will take over the driving duties when the series travels to New Hampshire next week, as will be in the car for races at Daytona and Chicago. "I would venture to say the next three is certainly possible, because you have a natural break with the off weekend [after Chicago]," Red Bull Racing General Manager Jay Frye said Friday at Infineon Raceway. "We understand it's not fair to throw somebody in the car for a week, necessarily; we try to do a little program with them." Swedish driver Mattias Ekstrom, a former DTM champion in Germany, is competing for the team in this weekend's Toyota Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway.(SceneDaily)

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Sorenson to replace Mears at Red Bull Racing: Reed Sorenson will drive the No. 83 Red Bull Toyota beginning with the June 27 race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Red Bull Racing Team announced Wednesday. Sorenson will replace Casey Mears. "Our unique situation has afforded us the opportunity to try some different things, and we're continuing to do that with Reed," said Jay Frye, RBRT's vice president and general manager. "We appreciate Casey's work and everything he's done the past five weeks." Sorenson, 24, made his Sprint Cup debut in October 2005 at Atlanta. He's made 148 Cup starts — three this season — with five top-five and 14 top-10 finishes. His best season came in 2007 when he earned three top fives and six top 10s, including his first pole at Indianapolis. In May at Dover, Mears began filling in for No. 83 driver Brian Vickers, who will miss the remainder of the season while he continues to recover from blood clots.(Red Bull Racing)

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Elton Sawye, Red Bull Racing parts ways: Elton Sawyer will part ways with Red Bull Racing, effective Monday. Sawyer, 50, who was hired as the competition director for the start-up company more than four years ago, was told of his fate last Thursday. Sawyer says that on Monday both parties agreed that this would be his last week. Sawyer is uncertain of his next career move. He was testing with Red Bull development driver Cole Whitt on Tuesday at Rockingham and will accompany Mattias Ekstrom to Sonoma this weekend as the Swede acquaints himself on the 1.99-mile road course in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race prior to making his Sprint Cup debut in the 83 Red Bull Toyota on Sunday. Sawyer competed in the Busch Series (now the Nationwide Series) from 1983 until 2002. The Chesapeake, Va., native won races at Myrtle Beach and New Hampshire while driving Fords for Akin-Sutton and finished a career-best fifth in the points standings in three different seasons. Sawyer also ran 29 Cup races between 1995 and 1996. His best finish came at Talladega, where he finished 14th driving a Junior Johnson Ford.(FOXSports)

Monday, June 7, 2010

Ekström in No. 83 car at Infineon: It took Mattias Ekström mere minutes to prove he could handle a stock car. The No. 83 Red Bull Toyota's weight and horsepower quickly became non-issues after Ekström logged a few laps in a support role during testing at Virginia International Raceway. "We were worried about getting him up to speed in a day," said Jay Frye, Red Bull Racing Team's vice president and general manager. "He was up to speed in an hour  less than an hour. He's a phenomenal talent." For that, Ekström's dream of driving in America's premier form of motorsports has come true. With the blessing of Audi, Red Bull Racing Team announced Tuesday that the Red Bull driver and two-time DTM champion will pilot the No. 83 in the June 18-20 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Infineon Raceway. He'll take over the seat from Casey Mears, who has been filling in for Brian Vickers while Vickers recovers from blood clots. "First of all, I'd like to express my sincere thanks  to Red Bull for inviting a Swede with zero NASCAR experience to compete in the United States and to Audi for the possibility and approval that enable me to fulfill this dream," said Ekström, 31, whose first name is pronounced Mat-tee-us. It's always nice to try something new. At the test I felt really at home. So now going to a race will be very nice. The biggest difficulty will be to race with 42 other cars. Here (in DTM), we have 18. I'm sure it will be interesting and I'm really looking forward to the experience." Ekström, a Red Bull-backed driver for the past nine years, claimed his first victory of 2010 in the second round of the DTM Championship on May 23 in Valencia, Spain. The Audi factory driver currently sits fourth in the DTM standings and has 14 career victories. In addition to his success in the Germany-based touring car series  only twice in nine seasons has he finished outside the top five  Ekström has proven his versatility and class in other motorsports disciplines. He's an active rally racer and three times has won the individual title at the Race of Champions.(Red Bull Racing)

Friday, May 21, 2010

Vickers to miss remainder of season with multiply blood clots: Brian Vickers expects to miss the remainder of the 2010 Sprint Cup season as he recuperates with issues brought on by deep vein thrombosis in his lungs and left leg. Vickers announced Friday at Charlotte Motor Speedway that “what has happened and due to the blood thinners I am on, I will be out a minimum of six months – the rest of the year. “If something changes, great, but right now it’s the rest of the year,” Vickers said. “It’s killing me, no pun intended.” Last Tuesday while visiting Washington, D.C. for an appearance, Vickers felt pain in his chest that woke him up during the night. He said the  pain was the most intense he’d ever felt in his life, but being “stupid” and thinking he was “invincible” he went back to bed despite having trouble breathing. Casey Mears, who subbed in for Vickers last week at Dover, will be in the 83 car for Saturday night’s All-Star race and will be in the car for the “foreseeable future,” according to Red Bull team director Jay Frye. (Yahoo! Sports)

Johnson: Vickers' spirits remain high: One driver who won't have to worry about finding his way into the All-Star Race is Casey Mears, who has been tabbed by Team Red Bull to pilot the No. 83 Toyota in place of Brian Vickers, still recovering from blood clots found in his legs and lungs last week. Vickers earned a spot in the race by virtue of his Michigan win last August and NASCAR has allowed the team to keep its spot in the field with Mears as a replacement driver. "Given the extenuating circumstances we have dealt with this past week regarding Brian's health, we would like to thank NASCAR for their assistance and understanding of this unique situation by allowing us to compete in the All-Star Race," TRM General Manager Jay Frye said in regards to the unique situation. While there have been reports circulating putting Vickers' return at three months or more, the team hasn't commented on specifics of his recovery and is concentrating on its current plans. Vickers hasn't made a public appearance or issued a statement of his own but appears to be making progress. "He seems well," said Jimmie Johnson, a former teammate of Vickers at Hendrick Motorsports. "They're still trying to get to the bottom of everything. His spirits are high and it's been really, really difficult for him to go through this -- to be a young guy and feeling for the most part healthy and informed of this issue. "They're still trying to get to the bottom of it. I don't think he has a lot of clarity. It's definitely been tough on him." (Sportsline.com)

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Vickers to miss three months? Sprint Cup driver Brian Vickers is expected to miss at least three months while undergoing treatment for blood clots, a source close to the situation told ESPN.com on Wednesday. Red Bull Racing officials said they continue to wait for final recommendations from doctors and that details of Vickers' prognosis will be announced on Friday at Charlotte Motor Speedway, where the 26-year-old driver and general manager Jay Frye will appear at a news conference. Casey Mears replaced Vickers last weekend at Dover International Speedway and finished 22nd. Mears again will drive the No. 83 in Saturday night's All-Star Race after Red Bull requested a driver change on Wednesday. Vickers' former boss, Rick Hendrick, said Wednesday on his Amp Energy video conference that he has spoken to Vickers. "We are good friends and I actually hooked him up with my doctor," Hendrick said on the chat. "He's doing well. They have to be careful. When you're dealing with blood clots you have to be extremely careful."
Team officials have not used a specific medical term in defining Vickers' condition. Dr. Victor Tapson, an associate professor for the division of pulmonary medicine at Duke University and co-chair of the Council for Leadership on Thrombosis Awareness and Management, and two other doctors said Vickers' symptoms are a sign of deep vein thrombosis with a pulmonary embolism. Tapson, who is not treating Vickers, described the driver's condition as life-threatening and said the length of treatment ranges from three to six months to possibly a lifetime. He added that Vickers was lucky somebody sent him to the hospital so quickly. "Most people die before they're diagnosed," Tapson said last week. "Most people that die aren't even expecting it. Once it's diagnosed you're certainly not out of the woods, but you're ahead of the game." Tapson said he was surprised more drivers don't develop clots because immobility is one of the contributing factors in clotting and drivers are confined to a tight space and have little motion for long periods of time. He said the concern for Vickers is that if taken off blood thinners a clot could develop, move to the brain and be fatal. He said if left on blood thinners, any sort of accident on the track that causes trauma could result in the driver bleeding to death. "Usually when we treat this we treat it with blood thinners," Tapson said. "Usually people on blood thinners, if it's what we call a reversible risk factor, you treat them for three months, sometimes six months. If you decide the patient has a continual list of blood clots then sometimes they take medicine for a lifetime. A lot may depend on what is his apparent risk. If they can't come up with any reason why he has a blood clot other than being a race car driver, then the option may be don't race cars anymore."(ESPN)

Red Bull Racing request driver change: Red Bull Racing Team announced that the No. 83 Red Bull Toyota has requested a driver change and has been cleared by NASCAR to participate in the Sprint All-Star Race Saturday, May 22. Casey Mears will again pilot the No. 83, due to primary driver Brian Vickers' diagnosis of blood clots and on- going testing and treatment. "Given the extenuating circumstances we have dealt with this past week regarding Brian's health, we would like to thank NASCAR for their assistance and understanding of this unique situation by allowing us to compete in the All-Star Race," said Jay Frye, Red Bull Racing Team General Manager & Vice President.(Red Bull Racing)

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

RBR releases statement on Brian Vickers: Red Bull Racing Team announced today that No. 83 driver Brian Vickers' treatment for blood clots has been progressing well in Charlotte, N.C, under the care of specialists and his physician, Dr. Jerry Petty. He is still undergoing evaluation for his condition. Vickers remains in good spirits and is appreciative of all support and concern that has been expressed from the team, Red Bull, fans, media, fellow drivers and members of the NASCAR family. Vickers and Jay Frye, RBRT General Manager and Vice President, will be available Friday, May 21 at 11:15am/et in the Charlotte Motor Speedway media center to address the media.(Red Bull Racing)

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Vickers released from hospital: Red Bull Racing Team announced that No. 83 driver Brian Vickers was released Friday night from the Washington, D.C.-area hospital where he has been hospitalized since Wednesday night. Vickers, age 26, was cleared to fly to Charlotte, N.C., where he will meet with a group of specialists as to the specifics of his condition. The status of Vickers' return to racing is uncertain. Updates will be provided as they are received.(Red Bull Racing)

Friday, May 14, 2010

Vickers hospitalized with multiple blood clots: Brian Vickers has multiple blood clots in his veins that will keep him out of Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Dover International Speedway and off the track for the unforeseeable future. Jay Frye, the general manager of Red Bull Racing, confirmed Vickers' medical condition on Friday at Dover. On the advice of the team's physician, Vickers entered an undisclosed hospital in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night complaining of chest pains. It was discovered several clots had developed in his veins, including one in or around his lungs and one in his legs. Vickers was immediately put on high dosages of medication to thin his blood and break up the clots. When it became apparent he would not be able to drive this weekend, Red Bull officials contacted Casey Mears as Vickers' replacement. Frye said there is no timetable for Vickers' return to the track. "In our press release [Thursday] we said this is a minor setback," Frye said. "It is a minor setback in a young man's life and career. Obviously it is a major setback for the race team and this weekend. As far as a timetable for his return, we're not sure." Missing the race likely will end any chance the 26-year-old Vickers has of making the 12-driver Chase for the championship for the second straight season. He is 20th in points, 160 points out of the 12th and final spot for the 10-race playoff. By missing a race, he will lose at least 156 points to the 12th spot and up to 190 to the race winner. "He's a long-term player with Red Bull Racing," Frye said. "Our main concern is his health." Frye, without being specific, said some of the things Vickers does as a driver on a daily basis could have contributed to the condition. He discounted the condition had anything to do with Vickers breathing a heavy dose of carbon monoxide inside his car after a recent incident at Texas. "At Texas we had damage," Frye said. "We had to park the car early because of stuff going on inside the cockpit. In conversations with Brian, that never was mentioned." Frye said there was a chance Vickers could be released from the hospital as early as Friday, adding the uncertainty made it necessary for the team to move forward with Mears in the No. 83 car. He indicated having Vickers take the first lap on Sunday, which would allow the driver to keep any points the car earned in the race, was not an option. Frye did not sound optimistic that Vickers would be in the car for next week's All-Star Race at Charlotte. He was unsure if another driver could drive the car in the non-points event that Vickers qualified for by winning at Michigan last season. "There's really no hurry for him to get out," Frye said of Vickers. "Our real focus is to get through the weekend and then evaluate. We'll know more next week. There are questions about the All-Star Race. Are we in or out? I am trying to get clarification." NASCAR doctors must give Vickers clearance before he can race again. Spokesman Ramsey Poston said the governing body is working in conjunction with the team.(ESPN)

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Vickers out of No. 83 at Dover with undisclosed medicial condition: Red Bull Racing Team officials announced that due to a recent diagnosis of a medical condition, Brian Vickers will not compete in this weekend's NASCAR racing activities at Dover International Speedway. Vickers, age 26, driver of the No. 83 Red Bull Toyota, was hospitalized Wednesday evening and continues to undergo testing and further evaluation. Casey Mears has been selected to drive for the team this weekend. "It is unfortunate that I will not be able to participate in the Dover race. Casey is a good friend of mine, and I know he will do his best for the No. 83 team this weekend," said Vickers. "Our main concern right now is with Brian and his health and recovery", said Jay Frye, RBRT General Manager and Vice President. "All things are looking good at the moment; this is just a minor setback. We appreciate Casey filling in this weekend and know he will represent the team well."(Red Bull Racing)

More on Vickers status: Brian Vickers was being treated Thursday for an undisclosed medical condition that will prevent him from racing this weekend at Dover International Speedway. Red Bull Racing said Vickers was hospitalized Wednesday night and being held for further testing. The team did not reveal where he was hospitalized, although Vickers was scheduled to visit Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., on Thursday and tour the Capitol with U.S. Rep. Doc Hastings. Red Bull said Casey Mears will replace Vickers this weekend in the No. 83 Toyota. "It is unfortunate that I will not be able to participate in the Dover race," Vickers said in a statement. "Casey is a good friend of mine, and I know he will do his best for the No.83 team this weekend." Red Bull general manager Jay Frye called Vickers' illness a "minor setback." "Our main concern right now is with Brian and his health and recovery," Frye said. "All things are looking good at the moment, this is just a minor setback. We appreciate Casey filling in this weekend and know he will represent the team well." He's currently ranked 20th in the standings, but only 160 points out of the 12th Chase qualifying position. Missing a start almost certainly will make it impossible for Vickers to make the Chase this season.(ESPN)

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Red Bull Racing donates cars to college: Mooresville-based Red Bull Racing has donated a Sprint Cup Series Toyota from its fleet to Rowan-Cabarrus Community College’s Motorsports Management Technology program. The NASCAR Sprint Cup team fields cars for drivers Brian Vickers and Scott Speed. The donated car will serve as a laboratory for students in the Motorsports Management program, allowing them to see how Sprint Cup Series cars are designed and manufactured, said Richmond Gage, program head for Motorsports Management at the school. The program eventually plans to build an engine and transmission for the car and also use it for show purposes at college and community events, Gage said. (ThatsRacin.com)

Thursday, January 7, 2009

Ken Schrader in No. 82 Red Bull at Bud Shootout: When NASCAR announced a revised format for this season's Shootout race, two-time Shootout winner Ken Schrader came knocking on Red Bull Racing Team's door. With Schrader's past winners spot, and a No. 82 team eager to start the season, the pairing just made sense. Schrader will pilot the No. 82 Red Bull Toyota for the February 6 feature race at Daytona International Speedway. Scott Speed, the full- time driver of the No. 82, is not one of the drivers eligible to compete in the Shootout. Speed will take back the reins of the Red Bull Toyota for the Daytona 500 on February 14. "Kenny's desire and dedication to NASCAR has always made him a favorite among fans and throughout the garage area," said VP and General Manager Jay Frye. "We're excited he approached us with the idea and are looking forward to giving him the opportunity he deserves and has earned." The NASCAR veteran earned a starting spot in this season's race by winning the event in both 1989 and 1990 (PR)

Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009

Red Bull Racing extends partnership with Toyota: Red Bull Racing Team has extended its partnership with Toyota in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The agreement continues a three-year relationship where Toyota has supported Red Bull Racing Team's progression from a start-up organization to a berth in the championship- deciding Chase. "Our partnership with Toyota has been a critical element to the success of Red Bull Racing Team," said Jay Frye, RBRT vice president and general manager. "Both Red Bull Racing Team and Toyota share a common goal of being a championship-contending team. Toyota has supplied the engine and technical support we need to get our teams into victory lane and now the Chase for the Championship. We look forward to the future with Toyota." Toyota has been an integral part of the team's success as both an engine supplier and manufacturer. "We look forward to continuing our relationship with Red Bull Racing Team  a member of our 'freshman class' in 2007 when Toyota joined the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series as a manufacturer," said Lee White, president and general manager for Toyota Racing Development, U.S.A. We are extremely proud of the team's and Brian's accomplishments, including their first victory and qualifying for the Chase."(Team Red Bull Racing)

Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009

Vickers happy to be in Chase contention with smaller Cup team: Now Brian Vickers in contention for a berth in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, a position that usually goes to drivers from one of the powerhouse teams like Hendrick, Roush Fenway Racing or Joe Gibbs Racing. His seventh-place finish at AMS on Sunday moved him to 13th in the standings, just 20 points out of the elite 12. It was his eighth straight finish of 12th or better. "To not be one of the bigger teams and still have a shot at the Chase is pretty cool," he said. "I'm so proud of the performance of the team and how far we've come, the poles, the wins, but we've still got a lot of work ahead of us. "We're up against some pretty challenging folks, but I know we're capable of it. "We just have to do the best job we can with the things we can control, and the rest is up to fate." (Racin' Today)

Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2009

Brian Vickers signs extension with Red Bull Racing: Red Bull Racing Team announced that Brian Vickers has signed a multi- year extension to his contract. Vickers will continue to drive the No. 83 Toyota under the leadership of crew chief Ryan Pemberton. "The team is continuing to prove that it is a consistent force week in and week out," said Jay Frye, Vice President and General Manager of RBRT. "Brian has been here from the beginning and he continues to be a vital piece of the puzzle with regards to our ultimate goal of building Red Bull Racing into a consistent contender." Since joining RBRT at the beginning of the 2007 season, Vickers has racked up a win, eight top-five and 22 top-10 finishes, along with seven poles. "I'm thrilled," said Vickers. "This has been a long time coming, and there is no where else I would rather be. I am looking forward to building on what we have started the last couple of years. It is an interesting experience being with a team from the ground up  going through the growing pains, then successes, together. I am so proud to have been able to bring this team their first win." The No. 83 currently sits 13th in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver points, 12 points out of the top-12.(Red Bull Racing)

Pemberton wins Wypall Crew Chief of the Race at Michigan: Ryan Pemberton, crew chief for the No. 83 Red Bull Toyota driven by Brian Vickers, has been named the Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Race following Sunday's Carfax 400 at Michigan International Speedway. A caution on Lap 149 of the 200-lap event gave the field a chance to pit, with some teams choosing to try and stretch their fuel to the finish. Pemberton brought his driver down pit road for the final time and opted for just two tires and fuel - giving him much needed track position and a shot at the win. Pemberton told his driver that in order to win the race, he would have to conserve fuel. Vickers gained six positions on the two-tire gamble and restarted ninth (behind other drivers who didn't pit) when the green flag fell with 48 laps to go. Ten laps later Vickers was leading, only to give up the lead to Jimmie Johnson with 35 laps to go. He drafted behind Johnson for the next 33 laps, conserving fuel. With just two laps remaining, Johnson's tank ran dry, handing the win to Vickers. In addition to the $1,000 check, the winning crew chief will receive signage to announce the win on their pit box the following week. The crew chief with the most weekly wins will be honored as the Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Year and will be presented a $20,000 check at the season finale in Homestead.(Wypall PR)

Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2009

Red Bull Racing to stick with Toyota? It looks like Team Red Bull will be sticking with Toyotas and TRD engines in 2010, rather than jump to Chevys and Rick Hendrick horsepower. Team manager Jay Frye said he expected to make some announcements on everything in the next week or so. Brian Vickers' contract renewal with Red Bull has been up in the air, but Vickers is expected to get a new deal with the team, and Vickers is also expected to drive some for Toyota Nationwide owner Todd Braun in 2010.(MikeMulhern.net)

Monday, July 27, 2009

Red Bull Racing to decide on drivers and manufacturer soon: Jay Frye, Vice President and General Manager of Red Bull Racing says he expects to have driver Brian Vickers' contract extension finalized, and a manufacturer decision made, after he travels to Austria next week to meet with Red Bull officials. Frye said several weeks ago that a contract extension between Red Bull  which owns and sponsors the team's two-car effort  and Vickers was one step away from being completed, but had not been approved. While ironing that out will be a priority, so to will be determining whether to remain with Toyota or making a move to another manufacturer. Vickers, who has driver for the team since 2007, told reporters Saturday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway that he was "keeping all my options open & the ball is in their court." Red Bull Racing was one of Toyota's original teams when the automaker joined NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series in 2007. Despite reports that have paired the organization with Chevrolet in 2010, Frye said nothing has been determined.(SceneDaily.com)

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Red Bull Racing's contract held-up: It was reported June 10 that Brian Vickers had agreed to a new multi-year deal with Red Bull Racing and that an announcement would come later that week. So where's the contract? Vickers described the situation last weekend as "strange" and said he'd hoped to have the new deal signed before now. "Right now, we still haven't agreed on a contract," Vickers told reporters at Chicagoland Speedway. "There were many times where I went into the week expecting it to be signed and sent to me to sign, and that didn't happen. Why? I can't answer that. That's a question for Red Bull and a question for Jay [Frye]." Frye is Red Bull's general manager. He was scheduled to meet with team owner Dietrich Mateschitz this week in Austria to work on Vickers' deal and a manufacturer for next season. Red Bull is in the final year of its contract with Toyota, which would like to re-sign the organization. Frye also has been in discussions with Hendrick Motorsports about forming a technical alliance in which HMS would supply engines and chassis as it does for Stewart-Haas Racing. If an alliance occurs with HMS, Red Bull also could be a potential landing spot for Brad Keselowski, although Frye recently said he had no plans to expand.(ESPN Insider)

Monday, July 13, 2009

Keselowksi to Red Bull Racing? Brad Keselowski wasn't kidding when he said he had "options" for next season. In addition to being close to re-signing a deal with JR Motorsports to run in the Nationwide Series, the latest buzz has Special K paired with Red Bull Racing. If Keselowski indeed stays with JRM, the only scenario that would work on the Cup side would be with a Chevy team. Maybe Red Bull is closer to inking a Chevy deal. Rick Hendrick said on Saturday that HMS has the resources to include Red Bull in its engine program.(FOXSports.com)

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Red Bull Racing Execs to meet next week: Red Bull Racing Vice President and General Manager Jay Frye will travel to Austria next week for his semi-annual meeting with his team owner and sponsor’s upper management. During that time, Frye said he will try to nail down a number of details for 2010, including a deal with an automaker, a contract for Brian Vickers and, possibly, a new major associate sponsor for the team. Red Bull is the final year of its deal with Toyota. Frye said on Friday at Chicagoland Speedway that “they’ve (Toyota) been a great partner and it’s our intention to try and go forward with them.” But he also said that talks on a new deal have been ongoing for more than a year and that the team is talking with Chevy as well. Frye said the team absolutely intends to re-sign Vickers.(SPEEDtv.com)

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Vickers still waiting to sign contract:  Where will No. 83 Brian Vickers be next year? Surprisingly, there is no answer to that question yet. The 25-year-old racer reached a verbal commitment to remain with Team Red Bull for another year last winter, yet nothing has been inked as of this week. Vickers called the situation "strange" and expected to have a contract signed before now. "We went into the season, with the economy and things the way they were, there were some uncertainties, which is understandable, I think, with anyone in corporate America these days," said Vickers, who won his fifth Cup pole of the year Thursday at Chicagoland. "So, I didn't really think that much about it. Right now, we still haven't agreed on a contract. There were many times where I went into the week expecting it to be signed and sent to me to sign, and that didn't happen. Why? I can't answer that. That's a question for Red Bull and a question for Jay (Frye)." Frye, Red Bull team manager, is expected to meet with owner Dietrich Mateschitz next week in Austria to hash out details of Vickers' contract and the possible technical alignment with Hendrick Motorsports in 2010. Vickers remains happy with the organization and hopes to have answers upon Frye's return.(FOXSports.com)

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Red Bull Racing to switch to Chevrolet? It is very possible that Brian Vickers, winner of the pole at Michigan International Speedway on Friday, could be behind the wheel of the No. 83 Red Bull Chevy next season. Yes, Chevy. Over the last three years, the Red Bull program has worked to gain speed but has experienced some reliability issues with the Toyota Racing Development engines. Red Bull's contract with Toyota is up at the end of this season. And although General Motors likely cannot afford to support additional teams at this time, Austrian billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz, who owns race teams in both NASCAR and Formula One, could certainly afford to take on the role as Chevy parts customer. If Red Bull Racing was to make the switch to Chevy engines, Hendrick Motorsports would be the logical choice of vendor. Given Jay Frye's relationship with HMS, most recently during the management of Ginn Racing and MB2 Motorsports prior to that, there's a familiarity as a technical customer.(FOXSports.com)

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Red Bull Racing re-signs Vickers to multi-year deal: Sprint Cup driver Brian Vickers has agreed to a multiyear contract to remain the driver of the No. 83 Toyota for the Red Bull Racing Team, sources confirmed Wednesday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. An official announcement is expected later this week. Vickers, 25 and a native of Thomasville, N.C., is competing in his sixth Cup season. He was in the last year of a three-year contact with Red Bull, but team officials had an option to extend the deal one season. Vickers wanted a multiyear agreement, which team officials gladly accepted to keep Vickers in the organization long term. (ESPN.com)

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Vickers says Earnhardt, Jr. intentionally wrecked him: Brian Vickers said Dale Earnhardt Jr. intentionally wrecked him during Sunday's Daytona 500 and questioned why NASCAR didn't penalize Earnhardt. Earnhardt and Vickers were racing to get their lap back when Earnhardt dived low on the backstretch and Vickers blocked. That sent Earnhardt below the double yellow lines that mark the out-of-bounds section. Earnhardt nearly got into the grass, came back up the track and made contact with the rear of Vickers' car, sending it spinning in front of most of the field. "I beat him to the yellow line and then he just turned us,'' said Vickers, who finished 39th. "He hit me the first time on the way down, which is fine, we all do that. Then when he came back up, he just hooked me in the left rear and typically NASCAR penalizes [that]. "To wreck somebody intentionally like that in front of the entire field is really kind of dangerous. That's my biggest problem with it, but apparently he wanted a caution pretty bad.'' Said Earnhardt: "It was accidental. I wouldn't want to wreck the field. He drove me almost down into the grass. "He shouldn't have started that. At that point in the race, that was pretty reckless.'' (Roanoke.com)

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Mighty Auto Parts to serve as associate for No. 83 Brian Vickers: The familiar blue paint scheme of the No. 83 Red Bull Toyota driven by Brian Vickers will sport a new logo for the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season as Mighty Auto Parts joins Red Bull Racing Team as an associate sponsor. Since 1963 Mighty has provided automotive service professionals with leading-edge sales tools, renowned training, outstanding business acumen, and parts and products that have helped some of NASCAR’s finest drivers to victory lane. Red Bull Racing Team will utilize Mighty's technical expertise to engineer professional performance- grade air and oil filters designed to endure the grueling demands of the racetrack. "I see a natural fit between the philosophies of Red Bull Racing Team and Mighty Auto Parts,” said Ken Voelker, President of Mighty Auto Parts. “The opportunity to partner with a company such as Red Bull Racing that brings passion, an inventive style of thinking and marketing acuity to everything they do, mirrors Mighty's own modus operandi. We look forward to developing a long-term relationship with RBRT, continuing our long-standing relationship with Jay Frye, and seeing the results of such a synergistic partnership." Mighty has been involved with NASCAR and Red Bull Racing Team General Manager and Vice President Jay Frye for ten years, most recently as an associate sponsor of Mark Martin at MB2. “It is a privilege to continue my relationship with Mighty,” said Frye. “As a team we have high expectations for next season; the quality products Mighty provides will help improve our on-track performance and take us to that next level.” (Red Bull Racing PR)

Monday, December 1, 2008

Ryan Pemberton named Brian Vickers crew chief: #83 driver Brian Vickers will have a new crew chief for his third season with Red Bull Racing Team, as Ryan Pemberton leads Vickers’ charge to his first Red Bull victory and a spot in the 2009 Chase. Teammate Scott Speed will return for his rookie NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. He’ll drive the #82 Red Bull Toyota under the watch of returning crew chief Jimmy Elledge. “We’re entering our third Sprint Cup season with driver and crew chief pairings that have what it takes to consistently compete at a high level,” said Jay Frye, RBRT Vice President and General Manager. “Brian and Ryan are each at a point in their respective careers where they can bring home wins and make a run for the championship. Scott earned his Sprint Cup ride by exceeding our expectations in ARCA and trucks. He has a great asset in Jimmy, who has experience working with both rookies and open-wheel drivers.” Pemberton, 39, inherits a #83 team that earned a pole, three top-five and six top-10 finishes before Vickers finished 19th in points. His most recent crew chief role was with the #44 Toyota, guiding driver David Reutimann to four top 10s in 2008. A longtime crewman, Pemberton became a crew chief in 1995 in the Nationwide Series and took his first Sprint Cup job in 1997 at MB2 Motorsports. Since then, he has crew chiefed for the likes of Derrike Cope, Jerry Nadeau, Joe Nemechek, Mark Martin and Aric Almirola. His first victory as a crew chief came when Nemechek won the 2004 race at Kansas Speedway.(Red Bull Racing PR)

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Pebemerton leaves MWR; joins Red Bull Racing: After asking for his release, Ryan Pemberton is expected to reunite with his friend and former boss Jay Frye at Team Red Bull. Pemberton, 39, spent this year working with David Reutimann and the No. 44 Toyota after weathering the MB2 Motorsports buyout and the Ginn Racing/Dale Earnhardt Inc. merger last fall. Pemberton's official position has yet to be determined. (FOXSports.com)

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Red Bull drivers to swap cars at Homestead: Red Bull Racing Team’s #83 and #84 drivers will swap cars for this weekend’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season finale at Homestead- Miami Speedway. Brian Vickers, who’s normally behind the wheel of the #83 Red Bull Toyota, will pilot Scott Speed’s #84, and Speed will pilot the #83.“We already have two talented drivers under our roof, so we chose to switch drivers for one race and change the momentum for this team,” said Jay Frye, RBRT Vice President and General Manager. “Brian’s a team player and wants to help the #84 see the same success the #83 has had this year. Scott’s a rookie and we wanted to take some pressure off of him and let focus on just driving the car. This organization is a team effort and we're treating it that way by finding a solution that works for everyone."(Red Bull Racing PR)

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Kevin Hamlin named Wypall Crew Chief of the Race at Chicago: Kevin Hamlin, crew chief of the #83 Red Bull Toyota driven by Brian Vickers, has been named the Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Race following Saturday night's LifeLock.com 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. The Hamlin-led team gambled on pit strategy all night as Vickers' battled a lose race car. It paid off as the field cycled through green flag stops and the No. 83 team caught a break when the caution came out for debris on lap 143 to put them back on the same pit cycle as every one else. Short pitting and staying out have been calls that Kevin Hamlin has pretty much mastered over the past few weeks to keep Vickers in the top 20 in the Sprint Cup Series standings. The No. 83 team was consistently one of the top cars on the track all night, leading the pack for two laps and eventually finishing in the 6th position. The 2008 Wypall Wipers Crew Chief Challenge is a season-long contest that will determine the best crew chiefs in the Sprint Cup garage. Following each race, a panel will vote to determine which crew chief demonstrated the most outstanding strategy and leadership during the race. It isn't necessarily the crew chief that goes to Victory Lane, but the crew chief that makes the biggest difference for his team. Representatives from Wypall Wipers, together with FOX/SPEED television analyst Jeff Hammond, and three of NASCAR's top crew chiefs who represent Wypall, including Todd Berrier of Richard Childress Racing's #29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevy team, Bob Osborne of Roush Fenway Racing's #99 Office Depot Ford team, and Kenny Francis of Gillett Evernham Motorsports' #9 Budweiser Dodge team, make up the panel of judges. In addition to the $1,000 check, the winning crew chief will receive signage to announce the win on their pit box the following week. The crew chief with the most weekly top wins will be honored as the Wypall Wipers Crew Chief of the Year and will be presented a $20,000 check at the season finale in Homestead. The Wypall Wipers Crew Chief Challenge will continue throughout the remainder of the 2008 season and spotlight the men behind the machines. For more information, log onto www.Wypall.com.(Wypall PR)

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Army sponsorship may head to Red Bull Racing? In a related story, ESPN’s Angelique Chengelis reported yesterday that the Army sponsorship is likely to move from DEI to Bill Davis Racing's #23 Toyota next season. That report has been denied by several sources, however, and Sirius Speedway has learned that Red Bull Racing is actually a leading candidate for the Army deal. Red Bull General Manager Jay Frye first brought the Army sponsorship to NASCAR during his tenure at MB2 Motorsports, and is said to be in serious discussions to secure that sponsorship once again in 2009. (The Motorsports Soapbox)

Monday, June 16, 2008

Vickers would like an explanation from NASCAR on late-race issues: Vickers [also] believed he should have been third on the green-white-checkered restart, behind Earnhardt Jr. and Kasey Kahne but ahead of Mark Martin, who was allowed to line up ahead of Vickers. "We kind of got it taken away from us," Vickers said. "We passed the 8 (Mark Martin) car about two laps before the caution came out and for some reason NASCAR wanted to put them back in front of us. "I'd love an explanation. It wasn't even like we were side-by-side. We passed them like two laps before the caution and that pretty much cost us the race right there, in my mind." (ThatsRacin)