The return of Pink Bull and the model’s tumultuous NASCAR journey

Pink Bull, in right this moment’s age, is extra than simply an power drink firm — it is established a world motorsport monarchy. Whereas probably greatest identified for its accomplishments in System 1, the model has made a domineering look on quite a lot of racing kits and liveries from the paved racing of MotoGP, DTM and Australian Supercars, to the grime circuits of Motocross. However the firm additionally had a brief, and vital historical past on this planet of inventory automotive 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 automotive 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 group, 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 Collection champion Invoice Elliott behind the wheel. Elliott didn’t 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 group remained “on monitor.” They introduced in Brian Vickers from Hendrick Motorsports and A.J. Allmendinger, who was leaving his promising profession within the Champ Automobile (ultimately IndyCar) sequence. A number of notable names have been signed on the manager facet too, together with Guenther Steiner because the group’s technical director.

Forward of the 2007 season, Pink Bull partnered with Toyota — a producer that was additionally making its debut within the Cup Collection on the time. But the setbacks had but to sluggish up. Each drivers didn’t qualify for the Daytona 500 that season Pink Bull lastly acquired its first official begin as a Cup Collection group 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 pace, inserting 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 group hoped the fifth-generation inventory automotive would assist degree the taking part in subject as previous notebooks have been thrown out utterly. The automotive 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 drive early within the Coca-Cola 600, main 61 of the primary 184 laps earlier than a wheel spectacularly flew off and located its strategy to the roof of an infield camper.

However whereas Vickers surged, Allmendinger continued to lag behind, inflicting the group 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, nonetheless, got here in an occasion that didn’t even depend in the direction of the championship. Allmendinger gained his means 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

Picture by: Motorsport.com / ASP Inc.

Allmendinger parted methods with the group on the finish of that season, with Pink Bull placing ex-F1 driver Scott Velocity, who had gained 4 races and practically took the title house for the 2008 ARCA season in a Pink Bull-backed automotive, 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 System 1 constructor within the Chinese language Grand Prix, and 4 months later, it earned its first victory as a NASCAR Cup Collection group 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, inserting twelfth. However the second entry, regardless of a brand new driver behind the wheel, nonetheless could not discover its means.

Victory lane: race winner Brian Vickers celebrates

Picture by: Motorsport.com / ASP Inc.

A surprising flip

Vickers continued to point out regular total enchancment annually, and got here into the 2010 season with excessive expectations for his No. 83 group 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 higher heights. He abruptly withdrew from the twelfth race of the yr in what was later revealed to be a life-threatening scenario 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 point out for his or her efforts that season in NASCAR. In the meantime, throughout the ocean, the model was on its strategy to turning into first-time F1 world champions.

Enter Kasey Kahne. The succesful racer had signed a novel deal for 2011, competing as a Pink Bull driver for one yr as a stopgap on his strategy to Hendrick Motorsports in 2012. Vickers additionally returned, hoping his medical points have been now behind them.

Brian Vickers, Pink Bull Racing Crew Toyota

Picture 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 greatest 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 properly, however gave the impression to be moving 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 group’s true potential earlier than its NASCAR story ended. Within the penultimate race of the 2011 playoffs, he performed spoiler and took the battle 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 automotive carried Pink Bull colours as its major scheme in a Cup Collection race … till now.

Race winner Kasey Kahne, Pink Bull Racing Pink Bull Toyota celebrates

Picture by: Motion Sports activities Pictures

A group match for one more time

12 years later, the worldwide model has returned to inventory automotive racing, this time as a sponsor as an alternative of group proprietor. Now the kings of System 1, with eight drivers’ titles since 2010, are on the lookout for a little bit of redemption within the NASCAR world. They fashioned an official partnership with Trackhouse Racing Crew, 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 automotive will carry Pink Bull colours as a major sponsor. Zilisch, one of many prime 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

Picture by: Trackhouse Racing Crew

And occupied with it, Trackhouse is symbolic of what Pink Bull Racing might have been in a unique period. They’re a brand new, thrilling group 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 fallacious time in that first run. As an alternative of getting into in the course of a monetary disaster, think about a Pink Bull NASCAR group being established within the present Gen-7 automotive 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 properly.