Team Red Bull
Encyclopedia
Red Bull Racing Team, also known as Team Red Bull, is a NASCAR
team owned by Dietrich Mateschitz
. The team is based in Mooresville
, North Carolina
in the United States
and is managed by Jay Frye. The competition director of the team is Elton Sawyer
, a former driver in NASCAR, while the technical director is Gunther Steiner, who formerly held the same title with Red Bull's Formula One
Red Bull Racing
team for the team. The team uses Toyota engines. Their drivers are Kasey Kahne
(4) and Brian Vickers
(83).
decided to sell his old facility. Then, on January 26, 2006, the newly formed team said that they would purchase the facility, and would hire 75 workers. However, the team was not allowed to race in the 2006 season because their manufacturer, Toyota, wasn't cleared to race, so the team decided that they would drive Dodge
s during the season. The team didn't have any materials to make their race cars, so they purchased multiple cars from Bill Davis Racing
.
announced his decision to drive for the team on Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain. A couple months later, the team made their first NASCAR appearance with Bill Elliott
as the driver, at Lowe's Motor Speedway
, but they failed to qualify for the race. On October 24, 2006, the team chose former Champ Car
driver A. J. Allmendinger
as the second driver. They also made two other appearance at Atlanta Motor Speedway
and Texas Motor Speedway
, which like their first, they failed to qualify both races. Then, announced on December 6, 2006, former Cup Series champion crew chief Doug Richert
would serve as the crew chief for Vickers.
During the 2007 season, the team moved to Toyota as the manufactuer. Both, Vickers and Allmendinger failed to qualify for the 2007 Daytona 500
. Allmendinger, in the first duel race, crashed with fellow competitor Robby Gordon
on lap 24, causing heavy damage to both their race cars. Vickers blew a right rear tire on lap 51 in the second duel race, ending his chances of making the Daytona 500. One week later, Vickers qualified for the 2007 Auto Club 500, which resulted in the team receiving their first top-ten. After failing to qualify for four consecutive races, Allmendinger qualified for the 2007 Food City 500
held at Bristol Motor Speedway
. During the 2007 Coca-Cola 600
, NASCAR's longest race, Vickers was able to finish in the top-five. On October 5, 2007, the team's development driver, Scott Speed
finished seventh in a ARCA race at Talladega Superspeedway
. Allmendinger's team had a forty-third place finish in the final owners' standings. Vickers ended the season with five top-ten finishes, with one being in the Coca Cola 600, where he led seventy-six laps. Vicker's team ended the season with a 38th owners' standings position.
became the crew chief for Vickers. Hamlin’s past crew chief roles include stints with Dave Blaney's
#22 Toyota, preceded by nine years of crew chief duties with Richard Childress Racing
drivers including Jeff Burton
, Kevin Harvick
, and the late Dale Earnhardt
. Hamlin has amassed nine previous Cup wins; five of those with Earnhardt Sr. Said Sawyer of hiring Hamlin: “Finding the right crew chief for the 83 team was a pivotal decision in an effort to restructure the foundation on that team. We need a crew chief with not only the right experience and background to work effectively with our driver and crew, but someone who also shares the same vision for success. We found that package with Kevin Hamlin. Our focus between now and Daytona is not only getting our cars up to speed for the season opener, but also getting Kevin up to speed working with Red Bull, Brian (Vickers) and the 83 team.” Due in large part to the additions of Frye and Hamlin, the #83 team has been shown to be the most improved in the series, qualifying for all the current races and secured a Top 35 exemption following the spring race at Bristol
.
Also in 2008, Allmendinger failed to make the first three races of 2008 and was replaced by Mike Skinner
on a temporary basis starting with the spring Atlanta race
. Allmendinger returned at the Aaron's 499
at Talladega
with a new silver paint scheme, and went to victory in the Sprint Showdown two weeks later, making him eligible for the All-Star Race
. Allmendinger also recorded a 10th-place finish at the Allstate 400
at the Brickyard
. In May, even though Vickers had not won a race prior to Sprint All-Star Race XXIV
, they won the All-Star Pit Crew Competition. Later in the season, Allmedinger announced that he was going to leave Red Bull to race for another team in 2009.
, Reed Sorenson
, Mattias Ekstrom
, Boris Said
, and Kasey Kahne
. Scott Speed was let go at the end of the season, and Speed in turn filed a lawsuit against Red Bull.
reported that Red Bull was planning to leave NASCAR at the end of the season. Though Red Bull has not officially announced its departure, some speculate that the teams on track struggles, combined with a lackluster outreach to the 18-34 demographic, forced their departure.
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
team owned by Dietrich Mateschitz
Dietrich Mateschitz
Dietrich Mateschitz is an Austrian businessman who co-founded the Red Bull energy drink company and holds 49 per cent of the company's shares.-Biography:...
. The team is based in Mooresville
Mooresville, North Carolina
Mooresville is a large suburban town in southern Iredell County, North Carolina, USA. It is in the Metrolina metro area. The population was 32,133 at the 2010 United States Census...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and is managed by Jay Frye. The competition director of the team is Elton Sawyer
Elton Sawyer
Elton Sawyer , is a long-time NASCAR driver. He is married to former NASCAR driver Patty Moise. Recently, Sawyer has been a driver coach for the Red Bull Racing Team.-Beginnings:...
, a former driver in NASCAR, while the technical director is Gunther Steiner, who formerly held the same title with Red Bull's Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
Red Bull Racing
Red Bull Racing
Red Bull Racing is a Formula One racing team based in Milton Keynes, England which currently holds an Austrian licence. It is, along with Scuderia Toro Rosso, one of two teams owned by beverage company Red Bull GmbH. The team have won two Constructors' Championship titles, in and , becoming the...
team for the team. The team uses Toyota engines. Their drivers are Kasey Kahne
Kasey Kahne
Kasey Kenneth Kahne is a NASCAR driver. He drives the #5 Farmers Insurance Group Chevrolet Impala for Hendrick Motorsports in the Sprint Cup Series....
(4) and Brian Vickers
Brian Vickers
Brian Lee Vickers is a American NASCAR driver. He was the 2003 Busch Series champion, and at age 20, became the youngest champion in any of NASCAR's three top-tier series...
(83).
Origins
After moving to a newer location, Roger PenskeRoger Penske
Roger S. Penske is the owner of the automobile racing team Penske Racing, the Penske Corporation, and other automotive related businesses. A winning racer in the late 1950s, Penske was named 1961's Sports Car Club of America Driver of the Year by Sports Illustrated...
decided to sell his old facility. Then, on January 26, 2006, the newly formed team said that they would purchase the facility, and would hire 75 workers. However, the team was not allowed to race in the 2006 season because their manufacturer, Toyota, wasn't cleared to race, so the team decided that they would drive Dodge
Dodge
Dodge is a United States-based brand of automobiles, minivans, and sport utility vehicles, manufactured and marketed by Chrysler Group LLC in more than 60 different countries and territories worldwide....
s during the season. The team didn't have any materials to make their race cars, so they purchased multiple cars from Bill Davis Racing
Bill Davis Racing
Bill Davis Racing was a racing team that participated in all three of NASCAR's top divisions until 2009.The team had run Toyota-branded stock cars and trucks in both the Camping World Truck Series and Sprint Cup Series since 2007. Dodge, Ford, and Pontiac previously backed the team...
.
2006 season
The team was officially started in January, but they wouldn't choose a driver until June 25, 2006, when Brian VickersBrian Vickers
Brian Lee Vickers is a American NASCAR driver. He was the 2003 Busch Series champion, and at age 20, became the youngest champion in any of NASCAR's three top-tier series...
announced his decision to drive for the team on Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain. A couple months later, the team made their first NASCAR appearance with Bill Elliott
Bill Elliott
William Clyde "Bill" Elliott , also known as Awesome Bill from Dawsonville or Million Dollar Bill, is a part-time driver and former champion of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Elliott was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America on August 15, 2007. He won the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup...
as the driver, at Lowe's Motor Speedway
Lowe's Motor Speedway
Charlotte Motor Speedway is a motorsports complex located in Concord, North Carolina, United States 13 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina. The complex features a quad oval track that hosts NASCAR racing including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend and the Sprint All-Star Race...
, but they failed to qualify for the race. On October 24, 2006, the team chose former Champ Car
Champ Car
Champ Car was the name for a class and specification of open wheel cars used in American Championship Car Racing for many decades, primarily for use in the Indianapolis 500 auto race...
driver A. J. Allmendinger
A. J. Allmendinger
Allmendinger again failed to qualify for the 2008 Daytona 500. After three failures to qualify in 2 attempts , he was replaced by veteran driver Mike Skinner on a temporary basis. Allmendinger returned to the Cup series at Talladega...
as the second driver. They also made two other appearance at Atlanta Motor Speedway
Atlanta Motor Speedway
Atlanta Motor Speedway is a track just outside Hampton, Georgia, twenty miles south of Atlanta. It is a quad-oval track with a seating capacity of over 125,000. It opened in 1960 as a standard oval. In 1994, 46 condominiums were built over the northeastern side of the track...
and Texas Motor Speedway
Texas Motor Speedway
Texas Motor Speedway is a speedway located in the northernmost portion of the U.S. city of Fort Worth, Texas – the portion located in Denton County, Texas....
, which like their first, they failed to qualify both races. Then, announced on December 6, 2006, former Cup Series champion crew chief Doug Richert
Doug Richert
Doug Richert is a television personality for SpeedTV as well as the crew chief for the #71 Ford Fusion driven by Andy Lally and operated by TRG Motorsports in the Sprint Cup Series. He is also the former full-time crew chief for the #15 Ford Mustang driven by rookie Timmy Hill and run by Rick Ware...
would serve as the crew chief for Vickers.
2007 season
2007 Daytona 500
The 2007 Daytona 500 was the first race of the 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series season, taking place on February 18, 2007 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. Kevin Harvick won the race by .02 second over Mark Martin in the closest finish since the first race at Daytona...
. Allmendinger, in the first duel race, crashed with fellow competitor Robby Gordon
Robby Gordon
Robert W. "Robby" Gordon is an American racecar driver who currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series as an owner-driver, driving the No. 7 Speed Energy Dodge Charger for Robby Gordon Motorsports, and also competes part-time in the Nationwide Series...
on lap 24, causing heavy damage to both their race cars. Vickers blew a right rear tire on lap 51 in the second duel race, ending his chances of making the Daytona 500. One week later, Vickers qualified for the 2007 Auto Club 500, which resulted in the team receiving their first top-ten. After failing to qualify for four consecutive races, Allmendinger qualified for the 2007 Food City 500
2007 Food City 500
The Food City 500 was the fifth race of the 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season, and was run on Sunday, March 25, 2007 at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee.- Overview :...
held at Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961...
. During the 2007 Coca-Cola 600
2007 Coca-Cola 600
The 2007 edition of the Coca-Cola 600, the twelfth race of the 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season was held on Sunday, May 27, 2007 at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, a suburb of Charlotte...
, NASCAR's longest race, Vickers was able to finish in the top-five. On October 5, 2007, the team's development driver, Scott Speed
Scott Speed
Scott Andrew Speed is an American race car driver. Formerly a driver for the Scuderia Toro Rosso F1 team, he made his Formula One race debut at the 2006 Bahrain Grand Prix; becoming the first American to race in F1 since Michael Andretti in 1993...
finished seventh in a ARCA race at Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama, United States. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base just outside the small city of Lincoln. It was constructed by International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France Family, in...
. Allmendinger's team had a forty-third place finish in the final owners' standings. Vickers ended the season with five top-ten finishes, with one being in the Coca Cola 600, where he led seventy-six laps. Vicker's team ended the season with a 38th owners' standings position.
2008 season
In 2008, Kevin HamlinKevin Hamlin
Kevin Hamlin is an American racecar driver who has competed in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series divisions.-General information:...
became the crew chief for Vickers. Hamlin’s past crew chief roles include stints with Dave Blaney's
Dave Blaney
David Blaney is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver. He currently drives the #36 Golden Corral/Big Red Chevrolet Impala for Tommy Baldwin Racing. Blaney was a successful sprint car driver before he started racing in NASCAR...
#22 Toyota, preceded by nine years of crew chief duties with Richard Childress Racing
RCR
RCR may stand for:* Radio Caracas Radio* Association of Radio Industries and Businesses* Ramsbottom Carbon Residue* RCR Refrigeracion S.A. de C.V., a mexican HVAC Company* Richard Childress Racing, a championship-winning NASCAR team...
drivers including Jeff Burton
Jeff Burton
Jeffrey Brian "Jeff" Burton , also referred to as JB or The Mayor, is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver who drives the #31 Caterpillar Chevrolet Impala for Richard Childress Racing. Burton is the younger brother of Ward Burton, who is a former Sprint Cup driver...
, Kevin Harvick
Kevin Harvick
Kevin Michael Harvick is an American stock car auto racing race car driver and car owner currently competing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for Richard Childress Racing, driving the No. 29 Budweiser/Jimmy John's/Rheem/Okuma/Realtree Outdoors/Bad Boy Buggies Chevrolet Impala...
, and the late Dale Earnhardt
Dale Earnhardt
Ralph Dale Earnhardt, Sr. was an American race car driver, best known for his involvement in stock car racing for NASCAR...
. Hamlin has amassed nine previous Cup wins; five of those with Earnhardt Sr. Said Sawyer of hiring Hamlin: “Finding the right crew chief for the 83 team was a pivotal decision in an effort to restructure the foundation on that team. We need a crew chief with not only the right experience and background to work effectively with our driver and crew, but someone who also shares the same vision for success. We found that package with Kevin Hamlin. Our focus between now and Daytona is not only getting our cars up to speed for the season opener, but also getting Kevin up to speed working with Red Bull, Brian (Vickers) and the 83 team.” Due in large part to the additions of Frye and Hamlin, the #83 team has been shown to be the most improved in the series, qualifying for all the current races and secured a Top 35 exemption following the spring race at Bristol
2008 Food City 500
The 2008 Food City 500 was the fifth race of the 2008 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season, and it was held on Sunday, March 16, 2008 at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. This race aired on Fox starting at 1:30 PM US EDT with radio coverage handled by Performance Racing Network and Sirius Satellite...
.
Mike Skinner (NASCAR)
Mike Skinner is an American driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He is the primary driver of the #60 Big Red Soda Toyota Camry for Germain Racing. He is the father of former NASCAR drivers Jamie and Dustin Skinner...
on a temporary basis starting with the spring Atlanta race
2008 Kobalt Tools 500
The 2008 Kobalt Tools 500 was the fourth race in the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and was held on March 9, 2008 at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia, located outside the Georgia state capital...
. Allmendinger returned at the Aaron's 499
2008 Aaron's 499
The 2008 Aaron's 499 was the ninth race in the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule and was raced on April 27th, 2008 at Talladega Superspeedway two miles east of Lincoln in Talladega County, Alabama...
at Talladega
Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega Superspeedway is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama, United States. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base just outside the small city of Lincoln. It was constructed by International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France Family, in...
with a new silver paint scheme, and went to victory in the Sprint Showdown two weeks later, making him eligible for the All-Star Race
2008 Sprint All-Star Race
The Sprint Showdown and Sprint All-Star Race XXIV were run on Saturday, May 17, 2008 at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, a suburb outside of Charlotte...
. Allmendinger also recorded a 10th-place finish at the Allstate 400
2008 Allstate 400 at the Brickyard
The 2008 Allstate 400 at the Brickyard was the twentieth race of the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup season and the fifteenth NASCAR race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway . It was also the first race under the ESPN/ABC section of the TV coverage for the 2008 season...
at the Brickyard
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located in Speedway, Indiana in the United States, is the home of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race and the Brickyard 400....
. In May, even though Vickers had not won a race prior to Sprint All-Star Race XXIV
2008 Sprint All-Star Race
The Sprint Showdown and Sprint All-Star Race XXIV were run on Saturday, May 17, 2008 at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, a suburb outside of Charlotte...
, they won the All-Star Pit Crew Competition. Later in the season, Allmedinger announced that he was going to leave Red Bull to race for another team in 2009.
2010 season
For the 2010 season, Speed and Vickers remained with the team, but on May 21, Vickers experienced medical problems, which resulted in him missing the rest of the season. His replacements were Casey MearsCasey Mears
Casey James Mears is the driver of the #13 GEICO Toyota for Germain Racing in the Sprint Cup Series. He is a former winner of the Coca-Cola 600....
, Reed Sorenson
Reed Sorenson
Bradley Reed Sorenson is an American NASCAR driver. He currently drives the #82 MacDonald Motorsports Dodge Charger in the Nationwide Series...
, Mattias Ekstrom
Mattias Ekström
Mattias Ekström is a racing driver from Sweden. He has been competing in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters for Audi since 2001. He is a two-time DTM champion and a three-time winner of the Race of Champions.-Career:...
, Boris Said
Boris Said
Boris Said is an American race car driver from Carlsbad, California but considers his hometown to be Stamford, Connecticut. His father, Bob Said, was a Formula One race driver and US Olympic bobsled driver in 1968 and 1972. He drove the #26 Ford Fusion for Latitude 43 Motorsports in the NASCAR...
, and Kasey Kahne
Kasey Kahne
Kasey Kenneth Kahne is a NASCAR driver. He drives the #5 Farmers Insurance Group Chevrolet Impala for Hendrick Motorsports in the Sprint Cup Series....
. Scott Speed was let go at the end of the season, and Speed in turn filed a lawsuit against Red Bull.
2011 season
For the 2011 season, Kahne became a full-time driver for the team, driving car #4 (formerly #82), and Vickers returned to drive the #83 car. On June 20, 2011, the Associated PressAssociated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
reported that Red Bull was planning to leave NASCAR at the end of the season. Though Red Bull has not officially announced its departure, some speculate that the teams on track struggles, combined with a lackluster outreach to the 18-34 demographic, forced their departure.