As the only driver pulling double duty across half the country this weekend, #55-Brian Vickers is well aware of the special challenges ahead. Still, he’s more aware of some challenges than others. There’s the logistics of getting from one place to the other. There’s the transition from his full-time role in the NASCAR Nationwide Series to his part-time detail on the Sprint Cup circuit.
The biggest hurdle, however, might be the actual task at hand, adapting from NASCAR’s longest road course — a circuit he’s never competed on — to its shortest. Vickers goes into the great unknown in Saturday’s Johnsonville Sausage 200 for the Nationwide Series at 4.048-mile Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis., before he returns to a more familiar track — 1.99-mile Sonoma Raceway, site of Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 for the Sprint Cup tour.
The unique Wisconsin-to-California doubleheader will mark the first time he’s competed in NASCAR national series events in different states in the same weekend. Part of Vickers’ divide-and-conquer strategy includes making just one commute. He’ll start the weekend with his #20 Joe Gibbs Racing team, focusing on regaining ground in the Nationwide title hunt.
In the meantime, Jason Bowles will sub for him in the #55 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota in Sprint Cup practice and qualifying, meaning Vickers will have to start Sunday’s race from the back of the field. (NASCAR.com)
