Vickers Cements Top-Five Finish at Gateway
MADISON, Ill. (May 11, 2003) – Wild and crazy can’t even begin to describe the events that took place during the NASCAR Busch Series race at Gateway International Raceway (GIR) on Saturday.
After a couple of heavy rain showers and tornadoes were spotted in the area, the Charter Pipeline 250 went off without a hitch and GMAC Racing finally got what they deserved -- a good finish.
Despite having never been to GIR, driver Brian Vickers was confident he could put together a solid run at the 1.25-mile oval. After starting 21st, the 19-year-old displayed a lot of patience as he raced his way toward the front.
Just 20 laps into the race, Vickers narrowly escaped an accident that took place just two positions in front of him by steering his No. 5 GMAC Financial Services Chevrolet onto the apron, picking up several positions in the process.
As difficult as it was to pass, the GMAC team elected not to pit during the first yellow flag, hoping to improve their track position for the long race ahead. Once the accident was cleaned up, Vickers restarted the race on Lap 23 in 16th.
For several laps from that point on, the Thomasville, N.C., native was consistently running the fastest lap times of any car on the track.
With pit stops beginning to cycle their way through on Lap 67, Vickers moved into the top spot on Lap 74 before pitting for four tires and fuel just one lap later. With the work in the pits complete, Vickers rejoined the race in 14th and began passing cars one by one.
On Lap 107, the caution flag waved again with Vickers in fifth as he, along with many of the other lead cars, came to pit road for four tires, fuel and a wedge adjustment. If the race were to continue under the green flag from that point on, the GMAC team was going to have to make one more stop for fuel, but fortunately a lengthy cleanup process allowed the team to come to pit road once again before the race went green on Lap 124.
Many of the front-running teams elected not to pit for fuel under the long caution period and all the GMAC team needed was a few of more laps under caution before they would be able to make it until the end without another stop.
Their wish came true on Lap 134 when the yellow flag waved for the fourth time with Vickers in ninth. The race restarted at Lap 147 with the team in seventh, and with 53 laps remaining crew chief Lance McGrew reminded his young driver to be patient and try to steer clear of any incidents.
The final yellow flag waved on Lap 174 with Vickers in eighth, and once the race was restarted on Lap 181, he took off like he’d been shot out of a cannon, passing the lapped cars and setting his sights on a top-five finish.
This time, the GMAC team would not be denied. On the final lap, leader Mike Bliss ran out of gas and the third-place car of Stacy Compton had an engine expire, allowing Vickers to gain two more positions to finish fourth -- his first career Busch Series top five.
The fourth-place effort was the GMAC team’s best finish since November of 2002 when they finished fourth at North Carolina Speedway with driver David Green.
Saturday’s strong showing also allowed the team to gain one position in the championship standings to ninth overall.
Scott Riggs, driver of the No. 10 entry, took the victory -- his first of 2003.
Next up for the team will be the Goulds Pumps ITT Industries 200 at Nazareth Speedway on Sunday, May 18. Live coverage of the race will begin at 1 p.m. EDT on FX and MRN Radio.