Nobody in NASCAR and probably few people in the world possess a better understanding of the dangers of blood clots than Brian Vickers. The health condition has forced the 32-year-old driver out of racing a few times in his 14-year NASCAR Sprint Cup career. But Vickers isn’t alone in his experience with blood clots. On average, one person dies from a blood clot about every five minutes.
That’s why, for three consecutive years, Vickers and Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., have partnered to educate race fans about the serious risk for blood clots. And, this weekend, Janssen will sponsor Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race – the TREATMYCLOT.COM 300 – at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California.
Vickers’ work supporting blood clot awareness takes a high-profile approach when he races the No. 14 Janssen Arnie’s Army Charitable Foundation Chevrolet SS in Sunday’s Auto Club 400 Sprint Cup race at Fontana to further support health and well-being initiatives. Arnie’s Army Charitable Foundation has been entrusted to continue Arnold Palmer’s legacy of philanthropy and invests in organizations that help children, youth, families, the environment and communities.
“I’m proud to team up with Janssen once again to talk about this serious condition I share with hundreds of thousands of Americans,” Vickers said. “I’m also thankful and excited to be driving for Stewart-Haas Racing in the No. 14 Janssen Arnie’s Army Charitable Foundation Chevrolet in support of my dear friend and fellow blood clot survivor, Mr. Arnold Palmer.”
Vickers and Palmer met during their work together with Janssen to share their personal experiences with blood clots. Janssen has chronicled their stories, and fans can view them at www.TreatMyClot.com.
The special paint scheme on the Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) entry in Sunday’s race is a show of support for Palmer, who will host this week’s PGA Tour stop, the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard at Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando, Florida. The golf tournament is one of the most prestigious events on the tour. Vickers’ No. 14 show car, a full scale replica of the No. 14 Janssen Arnie’s Army paint scheme, will be on display near the ninth fairway throughout the week-long tournament.
This weekend, Vickers is substituting for three-time Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart, who sustained a burst fracture of the L1 vertebra in a Jan. 31 all-terrain vehicle accident. Stewart was recently evaluated by doctors, who have implemented a rehabilitation regimen that will hasten his recovery. Future evaluations will be necessary before a timetable is known for Stewart’s return to racing. However, a full recovery is expected for the three-time Sprint Cup champion, as is his return to the No. 14 Chevrolet this season.
Sunday will mark Vickers’ third time racing the No. 14 in 2016. He finished 26th in the season-opening Daytona 500, and a broken rear gear left him with a 36th-place finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway two weekends ago. Ty Dillon finished 17th at Atlanta Motor Speedway Feb. 28 and 15th at Phoenix International Raceway last weekend.
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