Brian Vickers is a talented, young driver, and the No. 83 Toyota he pilots for Team Red Bull (TRB) has been strong on race day. Yet, Vickers finds himself 39th in the points standings.

Too often, Vickers has flown home instead of driving on race day, as he has struggled on his qualifying runs. That is not the case today as Vickers will start from the 28th position in the Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway. He benefited from the smallest turnout of the season, with 47 cars showing up to the track for qualifying on Friday, which means just four drivers were sent home.

Vickers, with the fledgling TRB, is out of the Top 35 in the point standings, which forces him to qualify every week. He will be making his 13th start today in the season’s 21st race.

“Not being in the Top 35 has been the hardest part for us, just strictly the points system,” Vickers said of his move from Hendrick Motorsports to Toyota’s TRB. “If we were in the Top 35 and were a guaranteed spot in every race, we would be in the Top 15 in points.

“We run really well, but qualifying is just a different animal. But there is no excuse to not make these races.”

Vickers, 23, had Toyota’s first Top-10 finish, when he came in 10th in the second race of the season at California Speedway. He almost got Toyota its first win at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte. Vickers led the race for 76 laps, before succumbing to failed power steering and a cut tire. He was still able to finish fifth and record Toyota’s highest finish to date.

“I would say we are competitive right now,” Vickers said. “There have been several races where we have been one of [the fastest] – if not the fastest – [cars] on the track. I definitely think we have a chance any time we get into a race.”

Vickers knows it will be a long day on the 2.5-mile oval in northeastern Pennsylvania.

“It is a big, fast race track with three very unique corners,” said Vickers, who finished 35th at the Pocono 500 in June. “It is fun for drivers, but 500 miles is a little long, though. I think maybe it would be better at 400 miles.”

A long day he is happy to be a part of.