Red Bull Racing driver switch nets locked-in Cup points position for 2009
HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Red Bull Racing’s decision to swap its two drivers for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season-ending Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway paid dividends as Brian Vickers was able to get the No. 84 Toyota in the top 35 in the owners standings.
That means Red Bull will have both its cars locked into the first five races of the 2009 season.
Red Bull decided to take Vickers, who usually drives the No. 83 Toyota, and have him start in the No. 84 at Homestead. Scott Speed went from the No. 84 to the No. 83, which was already solidly in the top 35.
Vickers didn’t exactly run well at Homestead, getting hit with a pit-road speeding penalty and finishing 32nd, but the No. 84 team climbed into 35th when Marcos Ambrose’s No. 47 Michael Waltrip Racing car crashed and he finished 42nd.
“The guys have worked so hard,” Vickers said. “I am happy that we accomplished what we set out to do, and that was to get this 84 car into the top 35 in owner points. That will be a huge weight off the team's shoulders going into Daytona next year. Scott [Speed] did a great job in the 83 today, too. I'm happy to see him running so well.”
Speed, who will likely drive the No. 84 full time next year, qualified second and finished 16th at Homestead.
“We had a really good car all night,” Speed said. “The first half of the race we were a little loose getting into the corners, but as the sun went down and it got cooler out, the car tightened up a bit.
“This was a good race for us. We finished every lap, stayed out of trouble, and came home with a good finish. I felt like I had a really good feel for the car and learned a lot, so it was a nice to end the season on a high note.”
The No. 84 team finished 13 points ahead of MWR’s No. 47, which started the year as the No. 00 with Michael McDowell.
