Vickers a Vet at Rockingham

ROCKINGHAM, N.C. (Feb. 21, 2003) – With the NASCAR Busch Series season opener in the books, Brian Vickers and his GMAC Racing team are now looking ahead to this weekend’s Rockingham 200 at North Carolina Speedway. Many teams devote a significant amount of time and energy preparing their cars for the superspeedway events at Daytona Beach, Fla., and Talladega, Ala., but teams are aware of the big picture and know that one race, particularly the first one, doesn’t make a season. Saturday’s Busch Series event marks the first time GMAC Racing will have the opportunity to run the new 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo body style. The team re-skinned the same chassis that was last raced in November of 2002 at North Carolina Speedway with driver David Green, who qualified on the outside pole and finished fourth. “I’m ready for Rockingham,” said Vickers, driver of the No. 5 GMAC Financial Services Chevy. “You’re going to see a more accurate picture compared to Daytona about how teams will perform this season. Drivers are much less of a factor at places like Daytona and Talladega because of aerodynamics. “At Rockingham, it’s all about conserving tires. Going fast isn’t always the answer there. Most of the time, it’s not the fastest car that wins, but rather the smartest driver.” Vickers will make his fourth career start at North Carolina Speedway on Saturday, where his best finish in three previous events came in November of 2002 when he finished 21st. The 19-year-old has started more races at the 1.017-mile oval than at any other venue on the circuit. Coverage of Saturday’s Rockingham 200 can be seen live on FX beginning at 12:30 p.m. ET.