MB2 Motorsports and Hendrick Motorsports have tentatively reached an agreement to have Hendrick’s 19-year-old Busch Series driver, Brian Vickers, run in the final four races of the 2003 Winston Cup season in MB2’s #01 US Army Pontiac. Vickers, second in points in Busch this season, has already been announced as the new driver of Hendrick’s #25 GMAC Chevrolet in Cup next season, but the team has been looking for ways to get him some Cup experience this season. MB2 has been using temporary drivers in the #01 since regular driver Jerry Nadeau’s injury at the May race at Richmond, Va. Mike Skinner has been driving for the team most recently. “We’ve talked with Hendrick Motorsports and having Brian in the car is definitely a possibility, that’s part of the reason we signed Mike only through Talladega,” said Jay Frye, manager of MB2 Motorsports. “Brian’s deal has not been set yet and if he doesn’t end up doing the race, Mike will remain with the team the rest of the season. He has been doing a good job for us.” Hendrick officials confirmed Saturday Vickers driving four races for the No. 01 was a possibility this season.( ThatsRacin.com )(9-13-2003) UPDATE: MB2 Motorsports announced that arrangements have been completed to have Hendrick Motorsports NASCAR Busch Series standout, Brian Vickers, drive the #01 U.S. Army/MB2 Pontiac in the final four races of the 2003 Winston Cup season. The 19-year-old native of Thomasville, N.C. will be subbing for Jerry Nadeau, who is recovering from injuries sustained in a May 2 accident at Richmond. The U.S. Army/MB2 ride will be an experience-builder for Vickers, who will join the Cup Series on a full-time basis next season, driving the #25 GMAC Hendrick Motorsports entry. Mike Skinner, who joined MB2 Motorsports in early August, will continue as the team’s substitute driver through the Oct. 19 race in Martinsville. The four Winston Cup races Vickers will drive the U.S. Army car in are:. Atlanta (Oct. 26), Phoenix (Nov. 2), Rockingham, N.C. (Nov. 9) and Homestead, Fla. (Nov. 16). The four events will be double-duty weekends for Vickers, who will also be competing in the Busch Series races. Vickers’ Busch ride last year was associated with the U.S. Army in 10 events through a relationship with the Army’s National Automotive Center (NAC).( US Army Racing PR )(9-17-2003)
