Crimson Bull, in at present’s age, is extra than simply an power drink firm — it is established a world motorsport monarchy. Whereas doubtless finest identified for its accomplishments in System 1, the model has made a domineering look on a variety of racing kits and liveries from the paved racing of MotoGP, DTM and Australian Supercars, to the dust circuits of Motocross. However the firm additionally had a brief, and essential historical past on this planet of inventory automobile racing. Sadly for Crimson Bull, this particular chapter in its relationship with NASCAR is one outlined by heartbreak and unfulfilled potential.
Close to wins and plenty of misses
Crimson Bull began dipping its toes into NASCAR in 2005, sponsoring Robby Gordon in two Xfinity races (Mexico Metropolis and Watkins Glen). Gordon practically gained together with his Crimson Bull-sponsored automobile at The Glen too, ending second. But, the model’s imaginative and prescient went far past the position of being only a sponsor. In 2006, one yr after launching their F1 staff, Crimson Bull formally established its NASCAR group.
The primary try of Crimson Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz to enter a Cup race proved unsuccessful, regardless of having former Cup Sequence champion Invoice Elliott behind the wheel. Elliott did not qualify his Crimson Bull Dodge for the autumn race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Whereas unlucky, the outfit’s plans for a full season of competitors with a two-car staff remained “on observe.” They introduced in Brian Vickers from Hendrick Motorsports and A.J. Allmendinger, who was leaving his promising career in the Champ Car (eventually IndyCar) series. A number of notable names had been signed on the chief aspect too, together with Guenther Steiner because the staff’s technical director.
Crimson Bull Toyota storage space
Picture by: Eric Gilbert
Forward of the 2007 season, Crimson Bull partnered with Toyota — a manufacturer that was also making its debut in the Cup Series at the time. But the setbacks had but to sluggish up. Each drivers did not qualify for the Daytona 500 that season Crimson Bull lastly bought its first official begin as a Cup Sequence staff the next week at Auto Membership Speedway. With it got here a glimmer of promise as Vickers wheeled his Crimson Bull machine to a top-ten end in its debut race. The remainder of the season toed that line of promise and disappointment, with Vickers failing to make the present in 13 races, whereas Allmendinger missed 19 races (over half the season). Within the races they did make, Vickers generally confirmed flashes of pace, inserting as excessive as fifth within the Coca-Cola 600 on a fuel-mileage gamble.
Crimson Bull lastly will get its wings
Hope was on the horizon for Crimson Bull with the introduction of a brand new chassis to NASCAR, it is “Automobile of Tomorrow.” The staff hoped the fifth-generation inventory automobile would assist degree the taking part in area as outdated notebooks had been thrown out fully. The automobile did deliver slight enchancment to Crimson Bull’s competitiveness, and Vickers ended up working all 36 races — practically successful at Pocono. He was additionally a dominant power early within the Coca-Cola 600, main 61 of the primary 184 laps earlier than a wheel spectacularly flew off and located its technique to the roof of an infield camper.
However whereas Vickers surged, Allmendinger continued to lag behind, inflicting the staff to place in veteran Mike Skinner for a couple of races in an effort to enhance this system. Crimson Bull’s brightest second of that yr, nonetheless, got here in an occasion that didn’t even depend in the direction of the championship. Allmendinger gained his method into the All-Star Race by way of the Dash Showdown, and Vickers’ pit crew gained the Pit Crew Competitors that very same weekend.
The NASCAR Dash Pit Crew Problem on the Time Warner Cable Area in Charlotte: the Crimson Bull Crew
Picture by: Motorsport.com / ASP Inc.
Allmendinger parted methods with the staff on the finish of that season, with Crimson Bull placing ex-F1 driver Scott Velocity, who had gained 4 races and practically took the title house for the 2008 ARCA season in a Crimson Bull-backed automobile, in his empty seat. 2009 ended up being an enormous yr for the power drink model throughout the racing world. Sebastian Vettel would earn the corporate its first victory as a System 1 constructor within the Chinese language Grand Prix, and 4 months later, it earned its first victory as a NASCAR Cup Sequence staff at Michigan Worldwide Speedway. Vickers gained the occasion from pole place, passing Jimmie Johnson as he ran out of gas with simply three laps to go. He then went on to participate within the playoffs, inserting twelfth. However the second entry, regardless of a brand new driver behind the wheel, nonetheless could not discover its method.
Victory lane: race winner Brian Vickers celebrates
Picture by: Motorsport.com / ASP Inc.
A stunning flip
Vickers continued to point out regular general enchancment annually, and got here into the 2010 season with excessive expectations for his No. 83 staff as he basically carried the group on his again. He scored three top-tens within the first 11 races, however destiny’s merciless hand denied each him and Crimson Bull from reaching larger heights. He abruptly withdrew from the twelfth race of the yr in what was later revealed to be a life-threatening scenario involving a number of blood clots all through his physique, together with round his coronary heart and lungs.
With out its flagship driver, Crimson Bull stumbled ahead with little to point out for his or her efforts that season in NASCAR. In the meantime, throughout the ocean, the model was on its technique to turning into first-time F1 world champions.
Enter Kasey Kahne. The succesful racer had signed a singular deal for 2011, competing as a Crimson Bull driver for one yr as a stopgap on his technique to Hendrick Motorsports in 2012. Vickers additionally returned, hoping his medical points had been now behind them.
Brian Vickers, Crimson Bull Racing Staff Toyota
Picture by: Motorsport.com / ASP Inc.
A closing glimpse of what may have been
With two confirmed winners behind the wheel, Crimson Bull was set for his or her finest season but. Kahne recorded eight top-fives and 15 top-tens regardless of not making the playoffs — even snagging two poles. Vickers had his personal moments as nicely, however gave the impression to be moving into on-track scuffles extra typically than competing for race wins. In June of that yr, the information arrived — Crimson Bull would shut down its NASCAR operation on the conclusion of the 2011 season, citing underperformance and lackluster model activation as the first causes.
However in a single closing second of glory, Kahne and people behind the scenes showcased the staff’s true potential earlier than its NASCAR story ended. Within the penultimate race of the 2011 playoffs, he performed spoiler and took the combat to the title contenders in his No. 4 Crimson Bull Racing Toyota. Holding off giants of the game, he gained at Phoenix.
One week later, Crimson Bull made its closing Cup begin with a three-car effort at Homestead. Kahne completed seventh, Vickers in seventeenth, and Cole Whitt crashed. That was the final time a automobile carried Crimson Bull colours as its major scheme in a Cup Sequence race … till now.
Race winner Kasey Kahne, Crimson Bull Racing Crimson Bull Toyota celebrates
Picture by: Motion Sports activities Images
A staff match for an additional time
13 years later, the worldwide model has returned to inventory automobile racing, this time as a sponsor as an alternative of staff proprietor. Now the kings of System 1, with eight drivers’ titles since 2010, are on the lookout for a little bit of redemption within the NASCAR world. They shaped an official partnership with Trackhouse Racing Staff, supporting Crimson Bull athletes (and drivers) Shane van Gisbergen and Connor Zilisch.
This weekend, for the primary time because the 2011 NASCAR Cup finale, a automobile will carry Crimson Bull colours as a major sponsor. Zilisch, one of many high prospects in NASCAR at simply 18 years outdated, will make his Cup debut on the Circuit of the Americas within the No. 87 Trackhouse Racing Crimson Bull Chevrolet.
Trackhouse Racing Crimson Bull livery
Picture by: Trackhouse Racing Staff
And serious about it, Trackhouse is symbolic of what Crimson Bull Racing may have been in a unique period. They’re a brand new, thrilling staff with worldwide stars and a world perspective aimed toward a brand new and youthful NASCAR viewers. Many will agree that Crimson Bull merely joined on the mistaken time in that first run. As a substitute of getting into in the course of a monetary disaster, think about a Crimson Bull NASCAR staff being established within the present Gen-7 automobile period and within the midst of the F1-US increase. The hype would have been extraordinary, the outcomes would have been higher and, I am certain for Crimson Bull’s sake, the return on funding would have been a lot larger as nicely.
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