CNHI
6-2-10 — Brian Vickers will miss the remainder of the NASCAR season because of
blood clots in his lungs and left leg. Vickers was hospitalized two nights
last week after feeling chest pains during a visit to Washington, D.C.
Testing revealed the clots, and Vickers missed last weekend's race at
Dover. Vickers returned to North Carolina following his release from the
hospital Friday night, but said a recurrence of chest pains sent him back to
the hospital the next day. He spent another two nights hospitalized, and the
decision to sit out the remainder of the season to receive treatment was
made shortly after.
The 26-year-old Vickers is being treated with blood thinners, and his
physician could not clear him to race because of the dangers of the driver
being injured in a crash.
Dr. Victor Tapson of Duke University, along with two other doctors said
Vickers' symptoms are a sign of deep vein thrombosis with a pulmonary
embolism.
Tapson, who is not treating Vickers, described the driver's condition as
life-threatening and said the length of treatment ranges from three to six
months to possibly a lifetime. He added that Vickers was lucky somebody sent
him to the hospital so quickly. "Most people die before they're diagnosed,"
Tapson said
Tapson said he was surprised more drivers don't develop clots because
immobility is one of the contributing factors in clotting and drivers are
confined to a tight space and have little motion for long periods of time.
He said the concern for Vickers is that if taken off blood thinners a clot
could develop, move to the brain and be fatal. He said if left on blood
thinners, any sort of accident on the track that causes trauma could result
in the driver bleeding to death. "Usually when we treat this we treat it
with blood thinners," Tapson continued. "Usually people on blood thinners,
if it's what we call a reversible risk factor, you treat them for three
months, sometimes six months. If you decide the patient has a continual list
of blood clots then sometimes they take medicine for a lifetime. A lot may
depend on what is his apparent risk. If they can't come up with any reason
why he has a blood clot other than being a race car driver, then the option
may be don't race cars anymore.
There has also been a study by Australian doctors that suggested
drinking the energy drink Red Bull, which sponsors the No. 83 Toyota, could
also contribute to blood clots."
He was replaced by Casey Mears.
Weekend Racing: The Nationwide and Cup teams are at the 1.5-mile
Charlotte Motor Speedway. The Cup teams will run 600 miles, their longest
race of the season. This week's Cup race will be the last of the season for
Fox Sports. Beginning with the June 6 weekend, races will be broadcast
either on TNT, ESPN, or ABC.
Sat., May 29, Nationwide Series race, 12 of 35; Starting time: 2 pm ET;
TV: ABC.
Sun, May 30, Coca-Cola 600, race 13 of 36; Starting time: 6 pm ET; TV:
Fox.
Racing Trivia Question: What year did Mark Martin win his first Cup
race?
Last Week's Question: What is Bobby Labonte's car number in Cup series?
He drives the No. 71 TRG Motorsports Chevrolet. The team is having
sponsorship problems, and may have to run some "start and park" races.
You may contact the Racing Reporter at: hodgesnews@earthlink.net.