Team Red Bull in NASCAR-Part 1 (2006-2008)

Team Red Bull (aka Red Bull Racing) was a NASCAR Cup Series team that raced in NASCARS’s premier division from 2006 to 2011. In that time, Red Bull left a major impact in both the series and many drivers’ careers during their brief time in the sport.

In early 2006, the formation of Team Red Bull became a reality. The story begins when Roger Penske sold his former team headquarters, which Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz immediately snapped up. Hiring Cup Series veteran Jay Frye to manage the new team, Red Bull also signed on to be a part of Toyota’s maiden voyage into the Cup Series in 2007. 

To get a jump on the 2007 season, Team Red Bull was able to acquire a few Dodges from Bill Davis Racing to get their feet wet.

2006

While the team did start in January 2006, the team launched a search for a 2007 driver. Luring Brian Vickers away from Hendrick Motorsports, the team had their first driver for the 2007 season. In October of the same year, Red Bull signed A.J. Allmendinger to wheel the team’s second entry

The team then turned their attention to 2006, aiming to make their debut at Lowe’s Motor Speedway with veteran Bill Elliott behind the wheel. Elliott, who drove a #83 Dodge sponsored by Victory Junction Gang unfortunately would not make the race. 

Following Elliott’s DNQ in Charlotte, Allmendinger next attempted to qualify a #84 Dodge at Atlanta and Texas, missing both races. 

2007

Red Bull’s official foray into the Cup Series in 2007 did not go as planned. Having officially brought on Brian Vickers now to drive the #83 Toyota, and rookie contender A.J. Allmendinger to drive the #84 the team was ready to make it’s on track debut. 

Coming into Daytona with extremely high hopes and scrutiny, Red Bull was eager to prove they were their compete. Daytona however, would not go as planned. Both Vickers and Allmendinger would fail to qualify for the 2007 Daytona 500. With no choice but to brush off and recover from what happened at Daytona, the team continued to march through the season.

Team Red Bull arrived again in California for race 2, with Vickers having much better results. Vickers was able to qualify his #83 Toyota a solid 15th, and immediately got the team their first Top 10, coming home 10th. Allmendinger and his #84 crew would not have a good weekend again however, having to go home for the second race in a row. 

#83 (Vickers):

Following California, Vickers would again DNQ for the following race in Las Vegas, as well as several other races during the season. Vickers and his #83 crew would ultimately end the 2007 season making only 23 of 36 events that season. Despite the many races the new team missed, there were some signs of success coming. Vickers was still able to score one Top 5 and five Top 10’s in those 23 starts, ending the season with an 25.1 average finish. Vickers would wrap up his 2007 season placing 38th in the final standings.

#84 (Allmendinger):

The beginning struggles of the team were also evident on Allmendinger’s #84 team, as Allmendinger would not qualify for a race until race 5 in Bristol. The rookie’s season was a tough one, as the 84 car would only make 17 of 36 races that season, failing to score a Top 5 or Top 10. While the team only had 2 DNF’s, Allmendinger would only manage a 43rd place finish in the final standings.

2008

The struggles of 2008 led to the Red Bull team making serious changes for 2008. Hiring veteran crew chiefs Kevin Hamlin (83), and Jimmy Elledge (84) the team looked to improve both speed and finishes for the new season. The results were mixed, as the roller coaster from the previous season seemed to continue. 

#83 (Vickers)

Vickers and the 83 team got off to a much stronger start in 2008, with Vickers not only making the Daytona 500, but finishing 12th. The Daytona finish was followed by an 11th in California, and a 9th in race 4 in Atlanta. The duo of Vickers and Hamlin would go on to lead 232 laps during the season, collect 3 Top 5’s and 6 Top 10’s, and come home 19th in the final standings

** For the last race of the season in Homestead, Vickers moved over to the #84 team car in an attempt to get the team back into the Top 35 in Owner’s Points. Red Bull’s development driver Scott Speed took the wheel of the 83 at Homestead, finishing 16th.

#84 (Allmendinger / Skinner / Speed):

The 84 team entered the 2008 season with high hopes, with Jimmy Elledge now on top of the pit box. Unfortunately, the 84 team’s season was starting to very much reflect how 2007 ended. 

Allmendinger would fail to qualify for the first three races of the season, prompting a driver change. Veteran driver Mike Skinner was brought in to try and right the ship for the next five races, but managing no better than 27th in Atlanta. Allmendinger would return to the 84 for race 9 in Talladega continuing into Kansas. This final stint included a win in the Sprint Showdown (the qualifying race for the All-Star race at the time), as well as Top 10 finishes in Indianapolis and Kansas.

With Allmendinger announcing he was leaving Red Bull for Richard Petty Motorsports in 2009, Kansas would be Allmendinger’s last race for the team, as he would finish the season driving for Michael Waltrip Racing in the #00 Toyota, and Gillett-Evernham Motorsports’ #10 Dodge.

With the seat of 84 now vacant, the team would run a mix of Skinner and Scott Speed to finish the season, as well as Vickers at Homestead (mentioned above). 

Stay tuned for Part 2 coming soon!