NASCAR Checkered Countdown: Top-Five New Hampshire Finishes

No.5 Brian Vickers get his third Sprint Cup win in overtime (2013).

Brian Vickers has a particular story. He made his debut at NASCAR’s highest level in 2003 and was able to win two races before blood clots in his legs and around his lungs forced him to quit racing momentarily in 2010. He returned in the following year and got the third win of his career during the New Hampshire summer race in 2013. After not being a factor for most of the race he was able to use the final part of the race to his advantage. Tony Stewart stayed out during a caution to be the leader but was in the situation of having to save fuel in order to make it to the finish.

During the following run Vickers worked his way through the field until he caught and passed Stewart with just a handful of laps to go. Soon after a caution came out taking the race to overtime. On the restart he kept the lead thanks to an impressive move on the outside of Stewart and Kyle Busch in turn one and was able take the checkered flag in first position. It was his first emotional win since the recovery from those health problems that had taken him away from racing in 2010 and that unfortunately would rise to surface again at the end of 2014.

Next: Stewart - 2011