BY ALLEN GREGORY
Bristol Herald Courier
Saturday, February 14, 2004

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. Brian Vickers is in a good position.

The Thomasville, N.C., native won the 2003 NASCAR Busch Series title, has a new full-time Nextel Cup ride with Hendrick Motorsports and is about to make his debut in the storied Daytona 500.

Not bad for a 20-year-old.

"Obviously, I'm excited," Vickers said. "I couldn't be in a better place than where I'm at."

Vickers will start 35th in Sunday's race after posting a qualifying speed of 186.505-mph in the No. 25 GMAC Financial Services Chevrolet. While some pundits have already tabbed Vickers as a rising star, this former Go-Kart prodigy prefers to look at the big picture.

"You've got to step back a little," Vickers said. "If you leave it up to the media, they will put a lot of pressure on you.

"I just surround myself with good people and keep my family close. They keep me calm and focused, plus they help take some of the pressure off me."

Hundreds of stock track warriors dream of reaching the major leagues of stock car racing. Vickers has realized his dream thanks to an ambitious father who put together a family-run Busch team and a supportive car owner in Ricky Hendrick a son of NASCAR power-broker Rick Hendrick.

"Everything has happened extremely fast," Vickers said. "I'm amazed just to have reached this level, but to be here at 20-years-old is really something else."

Marketing wizards, fans and car owners have fallen in love with the Young Guns concept in NASCAR. Vickers, a bachelor, has remained humble so far. He doesn't even have a cool nickname or flashy image.

"There is not much free time anymore," Vickers said. "I was fortunate this past off-season to have the chance to go out and enjoy myself some, but I'm still adjusting to everything here right now."

Fans in Southwest Virginia can relate to Vickers. He competed at Bristol Motor Speedway in a Busch car sponsored by area grocery chain Food City and raced at short tracks such as Kingsport Speedway in the regional Hooter's ProCup Series.

"I still remember those days and it was absolutely a good experience for me," Vickers said. "At the time I was growing up in racing we probably sacrificed more than the guys do now just trying to get here.

"Then once you reach this level, the schedule and other things associated with the sport are four times as bad. But it helps that your job is the only thing you need to focus on. You don't have to go to school, maintain a regular job or worry about other responsibilites."

Vickers doesn't regret those long road trips to far-flung tracks in his karting and Hooter's ProCup days.

"Man, those were some neat years," Vickers said. "The competition in ProCup is super strong and I gained a lot of experience from racing with those guys who are so hungry to make a name for themselves.

"I understand there is going to be a Hooter's ProCup race at Bristol (Motor Speedway) this year. That will be a really neat show. In fact, I wouldn't mind to run that race myself."

Vickers earned some extra credit for his Nextel Cup debut by competing in four Cup events last season.

"Those four races helped a lot and allowed us to get ahead for the start of this season," Vickers said. "It's like we began paving the road, but it's not completed yet."

Considering how quick he mastered the Busch Series in just his first full season, it's no surprise that Vickers has high goals for his next challenge.

"We're going to try to win the (Nextel Cup) rookie of the year title, win some races and get some poles," Vickers said. "It will be tough, but I've got good people behind me."