Veteran Brian Vickers couldn't have been less of a Red Bull Racing team player during Saturday afternoon's Nationwide Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, while his teammate Scott Speed handled a dicey situation beautifully.The two Sprint Cup Series teammates tangled while battling Mike Bliss for fourth on the last lap, sending Vickers into the wall. On the cool-down lap, Vickers bumped Speed numerous times in retaliation.
What Vickers said, though, likely will have some lasting repercussions on the team.
When asked what Speed told him after the two had exchanged words upon exiting their cars, Vickers said Speed explained that Vickers' No. 32 and Bliss' No. 1 machines slowed too quickly in the corner to avoid contact.
"That's not much of an excuse," Vickers said.
Latest NASCAR Images
Kyle Busch drives to victory at the NASCAR Nationwide Series Camping World RV Sales 200 auto race in Loudon, N.H., Saturday, June 27, 2009. (AP Photo/Jon Pierre Lasseigne)
AP
LOUDON, NH - JUNE 27: Brian Vickers, driver of the #32 Dollar General Stores Toyota, leads a group of cars during the NASCAR Nationwide Series Camping World RV Sales 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on June 27, 2009 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Brian Vickers
Getty Images
LOUDON, NH - JUNE 27: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Z-Line Designs Toyota, leads Joey Logano, driver of the #20 GameStop/Singularity Toyota, during the NASCAR Nationwide Series Camping World RV Sales 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on June 27, 2009 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kyle Busch;Joey Logano
Getty Images
Kyle Busch's crew celebrates his victory from the pit wall as Busch burns his tires in the NASCAR Nationwide Series Camping World RV Sales 200 in Loudon, N.H., Saturday, June 27, 2009. (AP Photo/Toby Talbot)
AP
LOUDON, NH - JUNE 27: Carl Edwards, driver of the #60 Scotts/Ortho Ford, leads a group of cars during the NASCAR Nationwide Series Camping World RV Sales 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on June 27, 2009 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Carl Edwards
Getty Images
LOUDON, NH - JUNE 27: Kyle Busch (C), driver of the #18 Z-Line Designs Toyota, celebrates with his team after winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series Camping World RV Sales 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on June 27, 2009 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Kyle Busch
Getty Images for NASCAR
LOUDON, NH - JUNE 27: Brian Vickers, driver of the #32 Dollar General Stores Toyota, leads Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Z-Line Designs Toyota, during the NASCAR Nationwide Series Camping World RV Sales 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on June 27, 2009 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Brian Vickers;Kyle Busch
Getty Images
LOUDON, NH - JUNE 27: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Z-Line Designs Toyota, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series Camping World RV Sales 200 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on June 27, 2009 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images for NASCAR) *** Local Caption *** Kyle Busch
Getty Images for NASCAR
Kyle Busch celebrates his victory at the NASCAR Nationwide Series Camping World RV Sales 200 auto race in Loudon, N.H., Saturday, June 27, 2009. (AP Photo/Jon Pierre Lasseigne)
AP
Kyle Busch's crew celebrates his victory at the NASCAR Nationwide Series Camping World RV Sales 200 auto race in Loudon, N.H., Saturday, June 27, 2009. (AP Photo/Jon Pierre Lasseigne)
AP
Television replays, however, seemed to tell a different story for the Sprint Cup teammates that drove for different teams on Saturday. Vickers piloted the No. 32 for Braun Racing while Speed drove the No. 99 for Michael Waltrip Racing.
As the three cars went to turn three on the one-mile flat oval during the final lap, Bliss was on the outside of Vickers with Speed trailing about two car lengths back. As Vickers tried to pass Bliss, he appeared to get loose and slide up the race track. His No. 32 lost momentum at just the moment that Speed appeared to be getting back in throttle.
Speed then nudged the rear of Vickers' Toyota, spinning it into the outside wall. The wreck dropped Speed to an 8th-place finish and Vickers to 12th.
"We all went into the last corner and they just checked up and I couldn't stop in time," said Speed. "Brian's a little bit heated for sure but luckily we're teammates so we'll get to talk it out -- maybe in counseling or something."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
6-28-2009 @ 1:35PM
illsell4u said...
Aw come on Geoffrey. Tell us where this one lives so we can bake him a welcome to the 'hood cake and take it to him.
mbl
6-27-2009 @ 8:41PM
sdh4194 said...
i guess that dope vickers forgot the time he put out his teammate johnson at talledega to win his only race. no wonder hendricks got rid of his ass.
Reply
6-27-2009 @ 8:44PM
charrel217 said...
"He ran into the back of us," said Vickers. "I don't know if he's frustrated because he's running so bad in the Cup series."
Wow! Brian how many wins have you had in your career? Four? And that's with Sprint Cup and Nationwide series combined. When was your last Nationwide series win? 2003?
Damn dude, once you've won a dozen or so races then maybe you can stop being such a hypocrite.
Reply
6-27-2009 @ 8:46PM
steve said...
okay boys, place nice. if you guys want to participate in a sport where there's no dangerous consequences, take up chess or backgammon. otherwise, please man-up, then shut up.
Reply
6-27-2009 @ 9:07PM
jerzeyguy57 said...
hey vickers you little punk does talledega ring a bell ?? remember when you crashed out jimmy johnson and dale jr on the last lap to win the race ?? shut your face little boy b/4 i do
Reply
6-28-2009 @ 10:44PM
kevin7459 said...
wow what a cry baby non winning driver how can he complain about someone else's driving when he su--s as a driver
Reply
6-27-2009 @ 9:12PM
harrissanj said...
brain has always had problems with other racers he like kyle wants to be the only racer on the track. these young guys should have run with Dale Sr. they would not be causing the problems they are, problily would not be on the track.
Reply
6-27-2009 @ 9:12PM
alphama333 said...
Haven't seen Vickers doing that great himself during his pukey little career. What room does he have to talk?
Reply
6-27-2009 @ 9:29PM
paulleddy6 said...
harrissanj, you mean the way he showed Sterling Marlin, oh, that's right Sterling put Dale Sr. into the wall and he was seriously hurt (like dead)
Reply
6-27-2009 @ 10:20PM
studly man said...
Little harsh dont ya think.. Racing is racing and the punk little B@#$h's THat want to wine from week to week like Kyle and Vickers Should get over it. THey will always be punk little B@#$h's.
6-27-2009 @ 11:02PM
ktbc6478 said...
Hey paulleddy6, pull your head out of your ass!!! Obviously you don't even watch the sport or you would know what the hell you're talking about. Sterling Marlin did not put Dale Sr. in the wall causing his death. Perhaps you should get your facts straight before shooting off your mouth!!!
6-27-2009 @ 11:12PM
illsell4u said...
Perhaps you had your beer goggles on that day but the reality of that crash was that Dale Sr killed himself with his own wreckless driving. He had no reason to be trying to block people going three wide around him. It was the first race of the seaon and none of those drivers would have caught Michael Waltrip. Sad, but true. Dale Sr came down on Sterling, Sterling did not do anything but try to make a pass. What was he suppsed to do, back off? Yeah right, how many times in his career did Dale Sr back off? It was a trajedy but it is a well known fact, Dale Sr was at fault. Many people loved him, many did not. Sorry if you cannot see even what his own family saw.
I know you were only trying to make a point but to put Dale Sr's death on anyone but Dale himself is not right.
mbl
6-27-2009 @ 10:25PM
bridgetsoneil said...
I can't stand that punk Vickers
Reply
6-27-2009 @ 11:16PM
Faster said...
Bush is awesome! Listen to your gods, Gordon, Martin etc. They all comment on how great he is. They race with him so they likely know more than people that don't. Vickers however has done nothing but whine. He's lucky to have got a good ride. If he keeps driving as he does he won't have it long.
Reply
6-28-2009 @ 12:03AM
brandonmil3 said...
Yeah I don't know why these peeps brought up Kyle, that son of a gun can drive the wheels off a car! I'm a Gordon fan but Kyle is VERY good!
6-28-2009 @ 1:11AM
Gary said...
Busch couldn't carry Marlin's or Martin's jock strap. He is nothing but a whiney crybaby. Hope he never wins another race. Go Mark hope you win some more races.
6-27-2009 @ 11:27PM
Eternity said...
That day cost Sr more than what could have been his best day ever. Michael Waltrip won, Jr second and Sr could have been 3rd. He chose to drive as he did for most of his career and it cost him his life. Sterling had a run on him, Sr tried to block, he went up into Sterling, the rest is history.
Reply
6-28-2009 @ 1:47AM
heatmizer1964 said...
Vickers is a DORK!!!!!!!
Reply
6-28-2009 @ 4:58AM
MATT said...
Scott Speed is a douchebag also. Who cares, he doesn't belong in the Cup or Nationwide series.
Reply
6-28-2009 @ 5:30AM
Chris said...
See, Brain...there is this thing in racing called an "accident". And especially on the last lap of a race it is every man for himself. The real pros like STewart and Gordon would have priased Speed for pushing them out of the way nd going for a win or better finish.
And less you forget how YOU won your only Cup race...by pushing Jimmie Johnson out of YOUR way and causing a wreck.
Get it into your head that there ae 42 drivers better than you and ALL want to win worse than you do. Soo all you are in any race is a road hazzard and an accident waiting to happen. You have no respect from anyone in Nascar, so go back and try some other sport...like Bass Fishing.
Reply