Bristol II: Brian Ickler preview

ICKLER LOOKS FOR SUCCESS IN FIRST BRISTOL START

CONCORD, N.C. (Aug. 18, 2010) - Brian Ickler will make his Bristol Motor Speedway debut in the No. 16 Roush Fenway Racing Ford this weekend. While he has never raced on the .533-mile "bull ring" of Bristol, Ickler is no stranger to short track racing, having notched seven wins, nine top-fives and 14 top-10s in the K&N Pro Series East and West divisions on short tracks.

The start this weekend will be Ickler's fourth in the No. 16 Ford and fifth overall for Roush Fenway Racing. In his last start, Ickler claimed his first Nationwide Series top-10 with a ninth-place finish in his track debut at Daytona International Speedway in July. While he understands the challenges he will face, Ickler is looking for more of the same success in his first showing at Bristol.

"There's no doubt that Bristol is a challenging track, especially the first time you show up to race there," Ickler said. "It's a track that has a personality all of its own with things happening so quickly. I am confident though in my equipment and this veteran group of guys on the No. 16 team. I feel like Rick [Viers, crew chief] and I worked really well together at Daytona earlier in the summer and I think we have a chance to surprise some people here this weekend. I'm hopeful we can get another solid finish and keep this team headed in the right direction in the point standings."

-source: rfr