Vickers plays it cool, tops off memorable weekend

BROOKLYN, Mich. -- Who needs a bachelor's party in Las Vegas to have a wild and crazy weekend packed with memorable events?

Brian Vickers experienced one without leaving the rather sedate state of Michigan. He won his series-high sixth Sprint Cup pole of the season Friday; took second place in Saturday's Nationwide Series race, after which he exchanged entertaining verbal insults with Kyle Busch; and then won Sunday's Carfax 400 Cup race in front of an estimated 100,000 fans at Michigan International Speedway.

Cup Series recap

• Story: Vickers gambles, wins
• Video: Final Laps fuel saver
• Video: Celebrate Victory Lane
• Video: Vickers visits SPEED
• Video: Vickers Press Pass

Nationwide recap

• Story: Keselowski wins race
• Video: Down to Final Laps
• Video: Busch, Vickers feud

Vickers couldn't have stirred up more fun if he got all hopped up on Red Bull and pulled an all-nighter in one of Vegas' most decadent hot spots.

The victory was Vickers' second in 195 Cup starts, and his first since helping the Red Bull Racing operation gain its legs in 2007. But it was no fluke, even though he won it in part by gambling on fuel mileage at the end.

Vickers was quick all weekend, whether it was with his tongue at the podium in the media center or in whatever race car he sat in and steered. As far as finally getting to Victory Lane again on the Cup side, it seemed only a matter of time after earning all the poles and stringing together five consecutive finishes of 11th or better heading into Sunday's event, including four of seventh or better.

"'Relief' probably isn't the word to describe it," Vickers said. "It really is like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders to finally get this win."

Stupid is as stupid does

The win notwithstanding, what was really impressive was Vickers' handling of his spat with Busch. In fact, had he handled it differently on the mental side, there simply was no way he could have won Sunday.

On Saturday, the two were battling for the lead on the final lap of the Nationwide race -- when eventual winner Brad Keselowski seemingly came out of nowhere and blew past them for the victory.

Afterward, Busch angrily called Vickers "an idiot" for racing him too hard and forcing him down on the apron right before Keselowski made the winning move. As Vickers drove to pit road following the race, Busch steered into him and cut him off -- then jumped from his car and into Vickers' face. (Continued)