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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Brian Vickers' much anticipated return to NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series racing lasted 23 laps into Saturday night's Sprint Unlimited exhibition and concluded with a massively wrecked car.
But the popular driver -- who missed all but two races last year while dealing with a recurrence of blood clot issues -- still emerged from Daytona International Speedway's infield care center smiling and encouraged, and perhaps a little sore from the heavy contact.
It was Vickers' first time filling in for injured driver/owner Tony Stewart, who broke his L1 vertebra in an all-terrain vehicle accident two weeks ago. Vickers is set to drive Stewart's No. 14 Mobil 1 Chevrolet during Daytona Speedweeks, which includes qualifying for the Daytona 500 Sunday, the Can-Am Duels on Thursday and the race next Sunday, Feb. 21.
Vickers' car cut a tire while racing in heavy traffic. At least seven cars were caught up in the ensuing accident. But despite the disappointment in an early exit -- he finished 24th in the 25-car field -- Vickers said he enjoyed the taste of Cup competition and feels better about what to expect come Thursday's Can-Am Duels, which set the Daytona 500 starting field.
"I had a little contact," Vickers said, smiling. "But it's the Sprint Unlimited and that's what it's all about. The 18 (Kyle Busch) and I got together a little bit early, had a little (tire) rub but it went away right away. The 2 (Brad Keselowski) and I had a little rub on the front-stretch.
"I felt the tire going down on the front stretch and I tried to get out of it, but we were three wide. Not much you can do, just try to manage the damage."
Vickers, a three-time Cup winner, has missed major parts of three of the past four seasons while dealing with medical issues. His last start was at Las Vegas in 2015 and he didn't race again after doctors told him he couldn't compete while on necessary blood-thinning medicine. Stewart-Haas Racing announced this week that Vickers would drive the car at Daytona, but has not said who will steer the Chevrolet thereafter.
The late timing has meant some serious catch-up work. Not only is Vickers driving a different car with a team's brand new crew chief (Mike Bugarewicz), but he's also refining some of the basics of competition he’s missed in the last year.
"We learned a lot," Vickers said. "It's the first time back and we worked on the spotter-driver relationship, talked about what we want and what we need. Unfortunately we didn't get to pit road, that was the part I was most disappointed in, I needed to make sure I hit the marks. But we've got plenty of time, the Duels, practice and then the Daytona 500."
Primarily for Vickers, it's been a good opportunity to race again while also helping his friend Stewart. Having missed so much of the last few seasons, this was clearly a chance not to be missed.
"I felt great out there," Vickers said. "I was sideways on Lap 1, but it was fun. It feels great to be back in a race car and I was having fun. I love racing. Everyone was racing like it was Daytona 500. I think the most frustrating part of it for me was not to finish this first race back. But these guys have done so much and worked hard and gave me a great car. Not gonna get 'em tonight. We’ll have to get 'em in the Daytona 500."