Thanks, Old Man
Dads were a big part in the driving development of Brian Vickers and AJ Allmendinger. With Father’s Day upon us, the two drivers have made sure everyone knows who helped get them to the Sprint Cup level.
Brian’s skill showed at an early age — first in karts, then Allison Legacy cars, then late model stocks and into his days in the Hooters Pro Cup Series. In 2001, Brian debuted in the Nationwide Series and in 2002 made 21 starts as the only rookie driver with an independent team, driving father Clyde’s No. 40.
“My dad is crucial to where I’m at, and my dad was big part of what got me here,” Brian said. “He always encouraged me, always wanted me to do whatever made me happy. My mom always wanted me to win. My dad always made me earn it. He made me want to win — very badly.”
Greg Allmendinger, a former racer, first noticed AJ caught the fever at the ripe old age of two. But it wasn’t easy financing his son’s pursuit to be a professional racer. To keep AJ’s dream alive, Greg and Karen Allmendinger mortgaged their suburban San Jose, Calif., home on three occasions, each time taking away some $30,000.
“Where I’m at is because of him,” AJ said. “He was racing before I was ever born. I was at the race track every night watching him race. I was watching him race local dirt tracks. I got the passion and thrill of victory from him. Basically, everything I am is because of my dad. It’s quite simple … I wouldn’t be doing any of this if it weren’t for him.”
Brian’s No. 83 starts 18th, AJ’s No. 84 39th in today’s Lifelock 400 at Michigan International Speedway (2 p.m. ET, TNT).
posted by Bull Rider at 6:23 AM
35 Comments:
Happy Father's Day to Clyde, Greg, and all the other dads at Red Bull Racing. A win would be the ultimate gift. Good luck today to the 83 and 84 teams.
WE BELIEVE!
Happy Fathers Day to all the Red Bull dads!! Good luck today, boys!!
Happy Fathers day to all the Red Bull Dads and everyone else!! 2 Bulls in the top 10 today boys! Good Luck!
Happy Fathers Day Team Red Bull Dads!
A.j.'s 2nd with 10 to go!
Why did we have to restart behind the 8? This is the biggest bunch of bullshit ever NASCAR. That may have very well cost us the first win for the 83 team. I cannot believe that. The 83 was nearly 10 car lengths ahead of the 8 before the caution. What a jokes. NASCAR robbed the 83 so the 88 could win.
nomar - i don't think i've ever heard someone cuss as much as BV was after the race. I'm with you & him - they so got ripped off. BV even said it was their race & nascar ripped them off. I don't know why the 8 got put ahead, unless BV & the 8 hadn't passed the next scoring loop by that point in time, but still, nascar should've let BV keep that spot since they were so far ahead.
KCMO
Well, good, I'm glad Brian brought it up on national TV. NASCAR has no explanation for what happened out there, and there's obviously no way to make it up to the 83 team...
Can someone explain to me why AJ was brought in for 4 tires and fuel with 3 laps to go when he already pitted for fuel? Robbed again of a top 10 finish! He drove from 39 to the front today and he deserved better than this.
they only put enough feul in to make it 200 laps. that caution screwed the 84 and they needed to pit to add that extra fuel because they ended up going 204 laps
if the 84 could of only stayed out and extra 5-7 laps on lap 149 when they pitted, they very well could of won this race. Oh well :(
is the 84 in the top 35 yet?
BV got robbed. Things are starting to connect here.. with the Dover speeding penalties. The #83 should've won, no doubt. They had the best car. All they can do now is shake that off and go to Infineon and have another kickass race. What's done is done. NASCAR will probably scoff at BV and make up another excuse.
Keep up the great work, RBR. You will get your redemption. Great points day by the way.
AJ is 37th in Owner Point's 110 behind 35th.
Brian is 16th in Driver points 97 behind 12th
They're both making gains! Great job today, not everything worked out quite right, but still 2 solid finishes for the Red Bull boyz!
I'm proud of them and as ALWAYS:
WE BELIEVE!!!
The guys had a good day!! Another top 5 for Brian and another top 20 for Allmendinger. Good points day and BV is slowly but surely inching closer to that victory. Earnhardt had it handed to him......
I am really happy that AJ finished the race, but, he should have finished in the top ten...maybe even 2nd. Ricky Viers made the stupidest decision ever! Why...why can't he take a chance just once. AJ had fuel with 3 laps to go...enough to finish the race. While everyone went in, AJ should have stayed out. He didn't need 4 new tires with 3 laps to go. He needed track position. Maybe I don't make the big bucks like Ricky, but, anyone in their right mind could have made the decision to stay out. Time for a new crew chief. Sorry..Ricky. AJ deserved a lot better than what he got and its your fault. AJ..hang in there. You're going to show em what ya got real soon!
Suzie - I agree wholeheartedly.
KCMO
Did anyone else watch Victory Lane Tonight? They talked about what brian said about Nascars decision with the 8 car. Actually, Jimmy just criticized Brian for speaking his mind. I for one agree with Brian and I think that Drivers need to speak to the media about there problems because it seems like thats the only way you can get through to NASCAR these days. and I also think Jimmy needs to get a new job.
GOOD JOB TODAY TEAM RED BULL!!! kick ass in sonoma
Happy Father's Day Clyde,Greg, and the rest of the Red Bull dads out their.
Anon I totally with u Jimmy was bashing BV big time on Victory Lane plus BV don't really speak his mind to often.
There's a reason Spencer is working on the Speed Channel.
Junior wouldn't have a ride if he were anyone else.
suzie you have one screwed up head on ur shoulders...you call Junior a mediocre driver then what do u think of Brian or AJ? You really need to think about what you call people especially when you say that all of Dale Jr's fans are rednecks, that was completely uncalled for.
Brian and A.J. are excellent drivers at a start up organization. I'm sure at the end of their careers, one or both of them will end up with more wins than Junior.
BV wasnt the only one that had issues with the Official today they screwed Matt Kenseth over as well....
Good Day for TRB Dont worry guys a win is just around the corner...
Also about the Dale Jr that was completely on called for because im also a fan of his and have been for years... and NOT all of his fans are rednecks
Jimmy Spencer is being an idiot to BV because BV was the first driver to complain about the heat in the COT platform. Jimmy Spencer doesn't have a clue on how hot it is in the car. I doubt he ever will because his fat ass won't probably fit through the window. I can't even recall his last race in the Cup Series.
Anyways what I'm saying his I wouldn't worry too much about his opinion. He gets proven wrong most of the time so.. yea..
I feel bad for AJ too. It seems like pitting him at the end was a really bad call. but keep your heads up guys, Infineon is next and AJ should have an advantage, especially with the new in-house chassis!
as for Junior, congrats to him.. eventhough I don't like him. It was fuel strategy, and that's also a part of the sport.
oops meant to say about the Dale jr comments...
What exactly did Twinkie Spencer say about BV?
And again - I did not say that "all" of Juniors fans are rednecks. I said a "boatload" of them are. That depends on the size of your boat. I doubt there is a boat big enough to contain Junior Nation.
However, a sizable portion - I'd say a Queen Marry II size vessel, myself - are of the hypocritical, Kyle Busch hatin' type. And this, simply, is fact.
AJ got totally screwed by getting called in for tires. Why do you need tires for a green/white/checkered when other drivers are chancing running out of fuel. I felt Ricky made a bad call last week when AJ was in the top ten - but at least he had 20 laps to get back up to 12th. There was no logic at all to pit him at the end. I have to agree that it may be time for a new CC. AJ is running to well now to be making stupid calls. He would be alot closer to the 35th position right now if you look at how many spots he lost in the last two weeks. BTW - he had enough fuel to make it to the end without pitting.
Way to go AJ and BV! Both teams had very strong cars on long runs today. AJ espeically would really start making moves after about 30 laps on the tires. They clearly are getting their race setups down.
Anyone who complains about AJ having to come in again at the end does not have a clue. It happened to a number or drivers...not just AJ. When they came in for what was expected to be the last stop....and took that splash of fuel...they only put in enough to go the 200. If they put in enough to to 204...and the race goes 200....they lose another 5-10 spots putting in extra fuel they did not need. Enough with the 20/20 hindsight people. There is a lot of luck in racing...and AJ has had some bad luck the last two weeks. When he gets some good luck...he might win one.
AJ...looking forward to having you back in Region 11 at Sonoma. All us karters (and former karters) will out in force to root you on!
agree with the last post, They only put in enough feul to go 200 laps, not 204. That caution screwed them. And where did you see the 84 getting 4 tires on that last pit stop????? It wasnt shown on TV, all I saw was AJ pitting, and getting a quick splash of fuel. Some of you are being a little over dramatic.
His last pitstop wasnt shown on tv.
84 team needs to learn what "track position" means. Bad bad calls for the last 2 weeks. And yes AJ got fuel and 4 tires in his last pit stop. Waste of a great race for Allmendinger.
Amen to that!
actually his last pit was show on tv, they cut to his stop just in time to see him pull up and get a quick splash of fuel and that was it
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