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NOTEBOOK: With heart mended, Vickers headed back in '11
Reveals he had heart surgery in July
BRISTOL, Tenn. – As it turns out, Brian Vickers had a hole in his heart.
The 26-year-old Sprint Cup driver, inactive since a medical emergency related to blood clots in May, underwent heart surgery. He held a press conference at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday to announce he would be back with Team Red Bull in 2011. He revealed the details of recent treatments.
Vickers also talked about the insecurity inherent in being struck down unexpectedly.
“What’s the perception going to be if I don’t show up at every race? I was so stressed being at the track. I wanted to participate as much as possible,” said Vickers. “I can’t express the appreciation for support from Red Bull. What I finally realized was that this was an opportunity of a lifetime to take some time off and do things I might never get to do again.”
A contributing factor in Vickers’ condition – blood clots appeared in his leg, lungs, even a finger in his left hand – was May-Thurner Syndrome, which increases a person’s risk of deep-vein thrombosis. Vickers had a stent placed in his leg on July 13, one day after surgery to close the hole between the two atriums.
Shunted aside – Pro football preseason games shoved the Irwin Tools Night Race off ABC affiliates in eight major markets Saturday, though the coverage was shifted to alternate channels in most cases.
Two stations where the race was completely pre-empted were in Missouri, where Kansas City Chiefs game was televised instead of NASCAR in Joplin, Jamie McMurray’s hometown, and St. Joseph.
The alternative being … -- Much has been made here about one driver after another – Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, et al. -- proclaiming he would happily accept a championship even if it meant not winning a single race.
“I would take a championship in a heartbeat with no wins,” added Greg Biffle and virtually everyone else who was asked. Six of the Sprint Cup Series’ current 12 entered Saturday night’s race winless.
Did anyone expect a driver to turn it down?
Nationwide limited – Apparently the change in the Nationwide Series next year will be related to championship eligibility, not a limitation of Cup drivers racing in the auxiliary series.
Carl Edwards plans to run the series full-time again. The apparent NASCAR change, or changes, will involved preventing Cup drivers from winning the Nationwide championship. Just what form that takes remains to be revealed.
You may contact Monte Dutton at mdutton@gastongazette.com.
