Brian Vickers hopes filling in for Denny Hamlin will lead to full-time Cup ride.
FORT WORTH, Texas — Brian Vickers steps into the seat of the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 11 car for the first time today for an opportunity that could have a big impact on his career.
Vickers has a chance to drive a car for a team that won five races last year with Denny Hamlin, who likely will miss the next four weeks because of a compression fracture in his lower back.
For a driver with two wins in 265 career Cup starts — and who came back from life-threatening blood clots that cost him two-thirds of the 2010 season — this is an opportunity to prove he belongs in the Sprint Cup Series full time again after stints with Hendrick Motorsports and Red Bull Racing.
“Do I think that my performance in the 11 is going to have a bearing (on my future)?” Vickers said last week. “Of course it will. Do I think that means that I have to go win to get a ride next year? No.
“I want to go win. That's our plan. It will have an impact, but it doesn't necessarily mean that it will. What that impact is has yet to be determined, but hopefully it's a positive impact.”
