Reports: Mears to replace Vickers at Hendrick before seasons’ end
Quote selected text Published October 10th, 2006 in NASCAR News
Several sources have informed AutoRacingSport.com that Hendrick Motorsports may be trying to negotiate an early release with Ganassi Racing for Casey Mears to replace Brian Vickers before seasons’ end.
Hendrick has already signed Mears to drive the # 25 for the team in 2007 and Brian Vickers has also signed a contract with Red Bull Racing in their debut season for 2007 as well.
Apparent strained relations were no doubt made worse with the events that transpired at Talladega last Sunday, when Vickers tapped teammate Jimmie Johnson on the final lap of the race taking both Johnson and Dale Earnhardt, Jr out of contention for the win. Vickers went on to win the race.
More on this story as it develops.
- Nascar: Mears Won’t be Returning to Ganassi - Vickers Asks Hendrick to Release Him
- Mears Joins Hendrick for 2007 Replacing Vickers
- Mears to switch to the No 5, Earnhardt, Jr to the ‘No 25′
- Report: Mark Martin to replace Mears at Hendrick-UPDATE
- Mears leaving Hendrick at end of season
this doesn’t surprise me. this just shows everyone how much respect Rick DOESN’T have for Ricky.
This will never happen.
If this really happens, I will loose alot of respect for Hendrick as a team. I have been a long-time fan of Jeff Gordon, not just for his personal attributes, but his ability to weild a race car. It seems things in Nascar really hit the roof in 2004, and Brian Vickers came along. I rooted him on since he was another Hendrick car, but he has made moves that I didn’t like. In last years All Star race he got hot headed and took out alot of cars, and he knocked Gordon some, but what he has is genuine; he just wants to race. Unlike Jimmie Johnson, who I have grown to dislike since he is too cocky; he was willing to follow his teamates ALL day and push them to the front. He was doing everything he should’ve. If he hadnt pushed Jimmie as hard, Jimmie wouldn’t have one; and he would have complained that his “teamate” wasn’t skilled enough to draft right. Either way, Jimmie wouldn’t be satisfied. And after all, Gordon has me steamed abit with three things in the past months. #1- He complained about Vickers racing him too hard. Its racing! What do you expect. #2-He keeps takein four tires in the races just to get wrecked, do you not learn? and #3, he complained that Junior bump drafted too hard. Now I used to hate Junior with all my heart, and he is still not one of my favorites, but this was still a BIg wineing moment. If Gordon had the motor DEI had he would be rammin em in the bumper as hard too. I still continue to root on Jeff, and Kyle[Busch], but Jimmie Johnson continue to dig his hole, and Hedrick is losing their personalty.
I saw this coming, as soon as the wreck started. I told my buddy, who I was watching the race with, and many others through the week so far that it wouldn’t surprise me to see Vickers out of the car next weekend and possibly Mears in the 25. I don’t necessaryly agree with it, but Jimmy Johnson, Vickers teamate, is in the Chase. With the problems between Gordon and Vickers, I think taking out Jimmy Johnson (which was awesome by the way!) was the last straw. I honestly don’t see Vickers competing in the 25 anymore this season. It’s hard for me to be mad at Vickers, me being from NC as he is, I tend to cheer for all of the NC drivers, there are so few left. But I am upset that he took out Junior Sunday, but glad that Jimmy got taken out as well. LOL! Well, I guess that’s all I have to say about that.
Lauren, are you saying the father is showing up his dead son? WTF? That’s bold.
The big story here is, guess who’d replace Casey Mears? Juan Pablo Montoya. You don’t think NASCAR is salivating at that prospect??
I’m saying that since he died, everyone seemed to forget about Brian. The 25 team was Ricky’s. So why not just throw Brian to the side? See my point? I’m just saying that Rick doesn’t respect Ricky because of how he’s treating Brian.
brian was the one who made the choice to leave in the first place. it has nothing to do with lack of respect from father to son, vickers soured the relationship with the team and hendrick motorsports is just doing what’s best for the remaining members of the team. the ones who chose not to jump ship. the ones who chose NOT to cheat.
bri’s right. vickers is the one running around badmouthing hendrick and making everything worse. and he took a blatant stab at his former team. by doing what he did, he showed his apparent disrespect for hendrick and even the late ricky. ricky would not have condoned what vickers was doing and of what he did to jimmie johnson. vickers is acting childish, only leaving the team because he wasnt winning like the rest of the team. oh well, his loss, casey mears’s gain. : )
when did he ever badmouth Hendrick? he’s had nothing but respect for everyone at hendrick. he’s only leaving because he’s been left out of the advantages from hendrick.
I can kind of see Hendricks problem, much the same way that they have banned Brian from team meetings, I think they are seeing him as a liability. But as any crew chief will say, you are racing for you, not for your team. I don’t agree with crashing a team mate, but I watched the video and listened to his explanation and can understand what happened. I first met Jimmy Johnson a number of years ago at Cajon and saw how arrogant and egotistical he was then when he wouldn’t take 5 seconds to give a her a autograph. Since that time I have felt that anybody who lays the chrome horn on him is alright in my book. I am a HUGE DEI person, but I don’t like the style or charecter of either JJ or his Mentor the great cry-baby JG.
Cheers!
I am really confused. all i saw all day was Brian pushing JG, Brian Pushing JJ. Brian being a teammate even after all that crying JG did. at this point i hope casey does get out of his gannassi contract, because next year i will go out and supposrt Brian vickers.
Hey, lets not forget how J. Johnson ditched Vickers for a win & then on t.v. was asking for forgiveness. To hell w/ Hendrick motorsports!!
#11 and #12 got it right!
Lauren, I agree completely! Rick has called Brian a son to him, but then one thing happens to his “perfect” team and Brian is over and done with.
Brian has sacrified good finishes for himself for a good finish for a teammate over the past couple of years and especially this season. Brian finally stuck up for himself in a race and what’s he get for it? A team not sticking by side.
I think it’s stupid on Jimmie’s part. A couple of weeks ago Jeff was saying Brian isn’t a teammate to him anymore and I’m sure Jimmie agreed because he seems to agree with everything Gordon says, and after all of that Jimmie is whining that Brian wasn’t being a good teammate to him during the race. Is Brian supposed to be stuck up your butt, Jimmie? He’s not allowed into Hendrick team meetings and you except him to keep sticking up for you? NO! I applaud you, Brian!