Controversial maiden win for Vickers
Brian Vickers took his maiden Nextel Cup win in controversial circumstances at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday night
Dale Earnhardt Jr. looked set to win the race, with Jimmie Johnson in a close second, when Vickers, in third, nudged his Hendrick Motorsports teammate into Earnhardt on the 188th and final lap, sending both leaders into a spin, then overtaking both to take the chequered flag.
The crowd greeted Vickers will loud booing in Victory Lane, as NASCAR officials reviewed the tapes to declare Vickers the winner.
The incident left Earnhardt and Johnson classified in 23rd and 24th respectively.
"I got into Jimmie and I hate it," said Vickers, who is leaving Hendrick Motorsports after this season to join the Toyota Nextel Cup team next season.
"The last thing I wanted to do was wreck [the race for] either one of those guys. But what happened, happened. It wasn't intentional.
"It's definitely mixed emotions for me, being my first win, but also what happened with Jimmie because he is my friend and also a teammate, as well."
Johnson, who saw what little title hopes he has had evaporate with his teammate's nudge, was visibly dejected.
"I just can't believe it," he said. "I had a great chance to make up some points, and I end up getting wrecked by a teammate.
"I know he was trying to get his first win, but he was in a position to finish second or third the way that was, and he gave me one hell of a push from behind and pushed me into Dale and off we went."
Earnhardt was more forgiving.
"Brian was just excited there," he said. "I'm not really that upset. I mean, that's just the way racing goes here, and sometimes you come out on the good end of those deals, and sometimes you don't."
Kasey Kahne took second place behind Vickers, with Kurt Busch in third, Matt Kenseth in fourth and Martin Truex Jr. in fifth.
The race results made little difference to the Chase for the Cup standings - but the top five are now closer than ever, with just 51 points separating leader Jeff Burton - who suffered a tyre puncture and finished 27th - to fifth placed Denny Hamlin, who finished the race in 21st.
Pos Driver Make Laps 1. Brian Vickers Chevrolet 188 2. Kasey Kahne Dodge 188 Chase 3. Kurt Busch Dodge 188 Chase 4. Matt Kenseth Ford 188 Chase 5. Martin Truex Jr. Chevrolet 188 6. Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 188 Chase 7. Jeff Green Chevrolet 188 8. Mark Martin Ford 188 Chase 9. Carl Edwards Ford 188 10. Bobby Labonte Dodge 188 11. Kyle Busch Chevrolet 188 12. Dale Jarrett Ford 188 13. Ryan Newman Dodge 188 14. Michael Waltrip Dodge 188 15. David Gilliland Ford 188 16. Robby Gordon Chevrolet 188 17. Mike Wallace Ford 188 18. Joe Nemechek Chevrolet 188 19. Scott Riggs Dodge 188 20. Tony Raines Chevrolet 188 21. Denny Hamlin Chevrolet 188 Chase 22. Tony Stewart Chevrolet 188 23. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet 188 Chase 24. Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet 187 Chase 25. Ken Schrader Ford 187 26. Mike Bliss Dodge 187 27. Jeff Burton Chevrolet 187 Chase 28. Dave Blaney Dodge 186 29. Elliott Sadler Dodge 186 30. Casey Mears Dodge 185 31. Eric McClure Chevrolet 182 32. J.J. Yeley Chevrolet 177 33. David Stremme Dodge 175 34. Paul Menard Chevrolet 173 35. Clint Bowyer Chevrolet 171 36. Jeff Gordon Chevrolet 167 Chase 37. Jamie McMurray Ford 160 38. Kyle Petty Dodge 149 39. Reed Sorenson Dodge 147 40. Sterling Marlin Chevrolet 145 41. Greg Biffle Ford 137 42. Kenny Wallace Chevrolet 24 43. Derrike Cope Dodge 9 CHASE FOR THE CUP - POINTS STANDING: Pos Driver Change Points 1. Jeff Burton 5598 2. Matt Kenseth +2 5592 - 6 3. Mark Martin 5588 - 10 4. Kevin Harvick +1 5565 - 33 5. Denny Hamlin -3 5547 - 51 6. Dale Earnhardt Jr. +1 5492 -106 7. Jeff Gordon -1 5451 -147 8. Jimmie Johnson 5442 -156 9. Kasey Kahne +1 5413 -185 10. Kyle Busch -1 5413 -185
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