GMAC Racing Finshes Second at Nazareth

NAZARETH, Pa. (May 19, 2003) – Things just keep getting better for GMAC Racing. In a rare Sunday race for the NASCAR Busch Series, Brian Vickers and the GMAC team finished second at Nazareth Speedway -- posting their second consecutive top-five finish and the best result ever for the Hendrick Motorsports team. So far this season, the 19-year-old driver has shown an uncanny ability to adapt to race tracks where he’s never competed, and Sunday’s Goulds Pumps ITT Industries 200 was no different. After starting 15th, Vickers seemed in no hurry to make his way toward the front, electing to take his time moving through the field. The opening laps of the race remained under the green flag until the first caution of the day at Lap 57. Just moments before the yellow flag waved, Vickers moved into seventh place despite his No. 5 Chevrolet being just a little loose entering the corners. All of the front-running cars elected to pit on Lap 58, including the GMAC Racing team. During the pit stop, crew chief Lance McGrew elected to change four tires, add fuel and make an air pressure adjustment. Great pit work by the crew allowed Vickers to gain three positions in the pits, restarting the race on Lap 64 in fourth. Running lap times consistently faster than leader Ron Hornaday, Vickers moved into second place on Lap 70 and it seemed nothing would be able to keep him from taking the lead. However, catching Hornaday was one thing, but passing him was another. For the next several laps, Vickers followed Hornaday, trying to take the lead, but because it’s so difficult to pass at Nazareth, he could never get by Hornaday’s No. 2 Chevrolet. “I really think that if we could’ve taken the lead, we would have driven off,” Vickers said. “It’s such a tough place to pass at.” On Lap 89, the second caution flag of the race waved, and while several of the cars running in the top-15 elected to pit, GMAC Racing did not. The next caution flag waved on Lap 112 with Vickers still in second place, and this time the team brought the No. 5 GMAC Financial Services Chevrolet to pit road for four fresh Goodyear Eagles and fuel. With several of the front-running teams electing to pit during the earlier caution period, Vickers had to restart the race in seventh on Lap 117, despite another fast stop by his over-the-wall crew. On the restart, Vickers went back to work, passing cars one by one and being careful not to put himself in any dangerous situations. By Lap 150, he had moved into third and began following the second-place No. 20 Chevrolet for the next 40 laps until driver Mike Bliss made a slight mistake, allowing Vickers to slide into second. With just 10 laps remaining and Hornaday leading by almost a full second, Vickers went to work trying to reel in the No. 2 Chevy. On the final lap, Vickers closed the leader’s margin to less than four car-lengths, but that was as close as he would get. Vickers went on to finish second, just four-tenths of a second behind Hornaday. “I really like this track because it’s different,” Vickers said during a post-race interview. “Passing is tough, but if you have a good enough car like we did, you can make it work. “I’m just so happy for everyone involved with this team. They give me quality equipment week in and week out and from there it’s up to me to do what I can.” Next up for the GMAC Racing team will be the CARQUEST 300 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway on Saturday, May 24. Live coverage of the event will begin at 12:30 p.m. EDT on FX and PRN Radio.