Brian Vickers Great Clips 200 Race Recap

Following this week’s exciting announcement that Brian Vickers will drive the Dollar General Toyota fulltime for Joe Gibbs Racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2013, the 29-year-old driver made his first career start with the team at Phoenix International Raceway on Saturday. Piloting the No. 20 Dollar General Toyota, Vickers locked in a fifth place starting spot for the afternoon’s Great Clips 200. He quickly charged up to second by lap seven of the 200 lap event. The second of 10 cautions came out on lap 31. Crew chief Matt Lucas brought the No. 20 car to pit road under the yellow for left side tires, fuel and adjustments to help with the handling of Vickers’ Camry. He restarted fifth on lap 37. The caution was back out on lap 69, and Lucas elected for a four-tire stop under the yellow while many of the leaders opted for two tires. The No. 20 Dollar General Toyota was positioned 11th when the field went back to green on lap 74. Throughout the next green-flag run, Vickers repo...