Sprint Cup Series driver Brian Vickers has been chosen as the third-quarter recipient of the National Motorsports Press Association’s NMPA Speedway Motorsports Spirit Award. Vickers, who is active with various charities, was selected based on his attitude and determination to return to racing after blood clots forced him out of the car in May. The Red Bull Racing driver has been sidelined while undergoing treatment for the blood clots. He has repeatedly said he’s confident he’ll be racing again in next year’s Daytona 500. The Spirit award is designed to recognize character and achievement in the face of adversity, sportsmanship and contributions to motorsports. Each year, quarterly winners are selected, and an overall winner is determined by a vote of the National Motorsports Press Association membership. Also receiving votes were former Motor Racing Outreach chaplain Lonnie Clouse, Roush Fenway Racing team co-owner Jack Roush, driver Brad Keselowski and ML Motorsports’ Mary Louise Miller. Bobby Hutchens, competition director at Stewart-Haas Racing, was the first-quarter winner while J.D. Gibbs and his family won the honor in the second quarter.(NMPA)(10-7-2010)
