Nothing Like an Intermediate

Intermediate tracks, as defined by NASCAR, are tracks that are one mile or more — but less than two miles — in length. It is a loosely used term, however, one that often disregards one-mile flat tracks and encompasses the wide, sweeping two-milers. Either way, Red Bull Racing has performed rather well on the so-called intermediates.

Red Bull Racing’s first top-five finish came at 1.5-mile Lowe’s Motor Speedway with Brian Vickers at the wheel of the No. 83. The first-year team’s first top 10 came at two-mile California Speedway.

Chicagoland Speedway, a 1.5-mile venue outside of the Windy City, falls into the intermediate category. Chicago is the next stop on the Nextel Cup schedule, and there’s no doubt Brian and teammate AJ Allmendinger will ride the rail just like the “L” trains do through downtown Chicago.

AJ heads to Chicago for the first time, but Brian has been there and done that. He has never started outside the top five, nor has he finished outside the top 15, including a fourth-place showing in 2005.