Nascar and Racing Scott Speed

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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.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Maybe the question isn't whether Scott Speed is ready for NASCAR, but if NASCAR is ready for Scott Speed.

The 26-year-old Californian has a personality as high octane as the Red Bull energy drink that sponsors his No. 82 Toyota Camry in the Sprint Cup Series, and sponsored the open-wheel driver competition that landed him a Formula One job in the 2006-07 seasons.

Speed carries himself with the unmistakable swagger that comes from being supremely confident and massively talented.

If the starting order of Saturday night's Budweiser Shootout at Daytona left you feeling a little bit uneasy about the start of the non-points dash for cash, well, Friday night's practice likely isn't going to calm your nerves:



Yep, that first yellow car to spin is Shootout pole winner Paul Menard and Scott Speed -- in the silver car -- is scheduled to start fourth with Elliott Sadler and Reed Sorenson in between them.

Paul Menard's new season with a new team is starting out on a refreshingly good note.

Menard, who left the Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing team following 2008 to drive the No. 98 Ford at Yates Racing, drew the pole for Saturday night's Budweiser Shootout at Daytona during a made-for-TV draw "party" Thursday night just outside of the speedway.

The lineup -- one that is set completely at random for the 28 eligible drivers -- has left some drivers that don't fall into "favorites" category sitting at the front while others, including last-place starter and former Shootout winner Jeff Gordon, will have plenty of traffic to negotiate at the green flag.