Not-so-fresh rubber was all that separated the #83 Red Bull Toyota Camry from victory in Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Pocono, while a late caution kept the #84 sister car from its first top ten finish ever.
Statistically, the Pocono 500 weekend was Red Bull Racing's best in the Cup Series, with Brian Vickers earning the team's best finish in its second year of competition - after the #83 led 18 laps before finishing second to Kasey Kahne - and team-mate AJ Allmendinger, who qualified eighth in the #84, running a career-best twelfth and gaining significant ground on the top 35 in points.
“I felt like we had the best car on the race track at the end of the race,” Vickers claimed, “We just didn't have any tyres.”
Vickers pitted on lap 165 for four tyres and fuel and then stayed on the track when the yellow flag waved twelve laps later. Unable to defend, he then had to watch as Kahne, riding on Goodyear Eagles with a slightly longer lifespan, took the lead on lap 184, while Vickers fought off Denny Hamlin the rest of the way to hold second.
With his second top five of the season, and fourth at Pocono, he moved up two spots in points in the Cup standings to 17th, and now lies 112 points out of the Chase's twelfth and final berth.
“I'm pleased, but not satisfied because I wanted the win,” he said, “I had a really good car there at the end and good strategy - and a good finish. All around, this team is growing and getting better, and the group of people we have in place is getting stronger. I still feel like we have a little ways to go, but I'm really proud of those guys. I want to give credit where credit is due.”
Allmendinger also held a spot in the top ten for the most of the day, and kept flirting with the top five, but ultimately had to settle for a spot at the tail of the top dozen.
The #84 took four tyres during a green-flag stop on lap 174 but, with the caution waving just a few laps later, Allmendinger got stuck back in 23rd. Still, he rallied for the best points finish of his career and moved to 37th in the car owner standings, 140 points out of the top 35.
“The #84 guys have been on their 'A' game for qualifying,” he said, “I feel a lot more comfortable running in qualifying, going and getting a lap and still making the race and not overdoing it. But, we've just been missing that good race to go out there. So, it's good to finally just put everything together.
“Since I've been back in the car, I've learned to be more confident and just trust myself more. Everybody at Red Bull, and Toyota in general, are getting better. We are building new chassis at the shop and doing a lot of testing -- it's just all paying off and I'm proud of everyone.”
