Vickers to drive Toyotas

UPDATE This rumor is upgraded to 'fact' today. As revealed this evening on Speed TV, Team Red Bull formally announced a multi-year agreement with NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series driver Brian Vickers, the 2003 NASCAR Busch Series champion, to race the No. 83 Red Bull Toyota Camry starting with the 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season. Rumors notwithstanding, more official information on the new team, including the second 2007 driver, will be made available later this year.

06/10/06 When Brian Vickers got permission from Hendrick Motorsports to look for a new job this week, it started a chain reaction that might include the return of former series champion Bill Elliott. Vickers will drive for Red Bull Racing next year, becoming the third full-time driver listed for Toyota's venture into stock car racing. Casey Mears told car owner Chip Ganassi on Thursday he won't return next year in the #42 Dodge, and on Friday he suggested he will replace Vickers at Hendrick. At the same time, Elliott apparently is mulling a full-time return to the sport – presumably as Vickers' teammate at Red Bull. During a local Atlanta cable television interview Wednesday, Elliott said he hadn't decided whether to make a comeback. He said he's busy with his son's go-cart racing career and a new grandchild, but he wasn't ready to rule out any return. Elliott will drive three races later this year for Red Bull as it gathers information to debut its Camry next year. He also will drive five races for Michael Waltrip Racing, which will field two Toyota teams next year. Augusta Chronicle