Pink Bull, in at the moment’s age, is extra than simply an power drink firm — it is established a world motorsport monarchy. Whereas probably finest identified for its accomplishments in Method 1, the model has made a domineering look on numerous 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 the earth of inventory automobile racing. Sadly for Pink Bull, this particular chapter in its relationship with NASCAR is one outlined by heartbreak and unfulfilled potential.
Close to wins and a whole lot of misses
Pink Bull began dipping its toes into NASCAR in 2005, sponsoring Robby Gordon in two Xfinity races (Mexico Metropolis and Watkins Glen). Gordon practically gained along with his Pink Bull-sponsored automobile at The Glen too, ending second. But, the model’s imaginative and prescient went far past the function of being only a sponsor. In 2006, one yr after launching their F1 staff, Pink Bull formally established its NASCAR group.
The primary try of Pink 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 Pink 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 profession within the Champ Automobile (ultimately IndyCar) collection. A number of notable names had been signed on the manager facet too, together with Guenther Steiner because the staff’s technical director.
Pink Bull Toyota storage space
Photograph by: Eric Gilbert
Forward of the 2007 season, Pink Bull partnered with Toyota — a producer that was additionally making its debut within the Cup Sequence on the time. But the setbacks had but to gradual up. Each drivers did not qualify for the Daytona 500 that season Pink Bull lastly obtained 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 Pink 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 velocity, putting as excessive as fifth within the Coca-Cola 600 on a fuel-mileage gamble.
Pink Bull lastly will get its wings
Hope was on the horizon for Pink 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 enjoying area as previous notebooks had been thrown out utterly. The automobile did carry slight enchancment to Pink Bull’s competitiveness, and Vickers ended up working all 36 races — practically successful at Pocono. He was additionally a dominant pressure early within the Coca-Cola 600, main 61 of the primary 184 laps earlier than a wheel spectacularly flew off and located its option 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. Pink Bull’s brightest second of that yr, nevertheless, got here in an occasion that didn’t even depend in the direction of the championship. Allmendinger gained his manner into the All-Star Race through 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 Pink Bull Crew
Photograph by: Motorsport.com / ASP Inc.
Allmendinger parted methods with the staff on the finish of that season, with Pink Bull placing ex-F1 driver Scott Pace, who had gained 4 races and practically took the title house for the 2008 ARCA season in a Pink 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 Method 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 gasoline with simply three laps to go. He then went on to participate within the playoffs, putting twelfth. However the second entry, regardless of a brand new driver behind the wheel, nonetheless could not discover its manner.
Victory lane: race winner Brian Vickers celebrates
Photograph by: Motorsport.com / ASP Inc.
A stunning flip
Vickers continued to indicate regular general enchancment annually, and got here into the 2010 season with excessive expectations for his No. 83 staff as he primarily 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 Pink 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 state of affairs involving a number of blood clots all through his physique, together with round his coronary heart and lungs.
With out its flagship driver, Pink Bull stumbled ahead with little to indicate for his or her efforts that season in NASCAR. In the meantime, throughout the ocean, the model was on its option to turning into first-time F1 world champions.
Enter Kasey Kahne. The succesful racer had signed a singular deal for 2011, competing as a Pink Bull driver for one yr as a stopgap on his option to Hendrick Motorsports in 2012. Vickers additionally returned, hoping his medical points had been now behind them.
Brian Vickers, Pink Bull Racing Group Toyota
Photograph by: Motorsport.com / ASP Inc.
A closing glimpse of what might have been
With two confirmed winners behind the wheel, Pink 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 appeared to be entering into on-track scuffles extra usually than competing for race wins. In June of that yr, the information arrived — Pink 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 Pink Bull Racing Toyota. Holding off giants of the game, he gained at Phoenix.
One week later, Pink 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 Pink Bull colours as its main scheme in a Cup Sequence race … till now.
Race winner Kasey Kahne, Pink Bull Racing Pink Bull Toyota celebrates
Photograph by: Motion Sports activities Images
A staff match for an additional time
12 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 Method 1, with eight drivers’ titles since 2010, are in search of a little bit of redemption within the NASCAR world. They shaped an official partnership with Trackhouse Racing Group, supporting Pink Bull athletes (and drivers) Shane van Gisbergen and Connor Zilisch.
This weekend, for the primary time because the 2012 NASCAR Cup finale, a automobile will carry Pink Bull colours as a main sponsor. Zilisch, one of many high prospects in NASCAR at simply 18 years previous, will make his Cup debut on the Circuit of the Americas within the No. 87 Trackhouse Racing Pink Bull Chevrolet.
Trackhouse Racing Pink Bull livery
Photograph by: Trackhouse Racing Group
And occupied with it, Trackhouse is symbolic of what Pink Bull Racing might have been in a special period. They’re a brand new, thrilling staff with worldwide stars and a world perspective geared toward a brand new and youthful NASCAR viewers. Many will agree that Pink Bull merely joined on the improper time in that first run. As an alternative of getting into in the midst of a monetary disaster, think about a Pink 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 positive for Pink Bull’s sake, the return on funding would have been a lot larger as nicely.
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