Red Bull Racing Team
A defunct American NASCAR team owned by the founders of Red Bull.
Last updated August 22, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Red Bull Racing Team was an American NASCAR organization established by Red Bull founders Dietrich Mateschitz and Chaleo Yoovidhya. Despite its name and sponsorship identity, it was a stock-car racing operation in the United States and should be distinguished from Red Bull Racing, the separate Formula One team. The NASCAR organization was based in Mooresville, North Carolina, and was managed by Jay Frye during its later development and competition period. The team emerged in 2006 after acquiring an older racing facility associated with Roger Penske. It planned to employ approximately 75 workers and initially expected to compete with Toyota equipment. Because Toyota was not cleared to enter the relevant competition at the beginning of the 2006 season, the organization began with Dodge cars purchased from Bill Davis Racing. The team made several unsuccessful attempts to qualify for NASCAR Cup Series races during its first year. Brian Vickers was selected as one of its principal drivers in June 2006, while former Champ Car competitor A. J. Allmendinger joined later that year. Former Cup Series champion crew chief Doug Richert was appointed to lead Vickers's program for 2007. The 2007 season represented the team's transition to Toyota. Both Vickers and Allmendinger experienced qualification difficulties, including failure to make the Daytona 500, but the organization gradually improved. Vickers recorded the team's first top-ten result at California and later finished fifth in the Coca-Cola 600 after leading 76 laps. Allmendinger also secured several notable results, although his program remained inconsistent and accumulated numerous failures to qualify. In 2008, Kevin Hamlin became Vickers's crew chief, while Jay Frye took on a more significant management role. The No. 83 operation improved its consistency and obtained a top-35 exemption, reducing the qualification problems that had affected its early seasons. Allmendinger was temporarily replaced by Mike Skinner at the beginning of 2008, then returned and won the Sprint Showdown, earning eligibility for the All-Star Race. He later announced that he would leave for Richard Petty Motorsports for the 2009 season. Red Bull replaced him with development driver Scott Speed, while the team also renumbered the second car. The organization's strongest Cup Series campaign came in 2009. Vickers won at Michigan in August, delivering Red Bull Racing Team's first NASCAR Cup Series victory. He subsequently qualified for the Chase for the Sprint Cup, another first for the organization, and finished twelfth in the final standings after a less successful playoff run. Speed's season was less competitive, and he finished well behind Joey Logano in the rookie standings. The team suffered a major disruption in 2010 when Vickers developed medical problems and missed the remainder of the season. Several substitute drivers, including Casey Mears, Reed Sorenson, Mattias Ekström, Boris Said, and Kasey Kahne, filled the vacancy. Scott Speed was released at the end of the year and later filed a lawsuit against the organization. Kahne became a full-time driver in 2011, while Vickers returned to the No. 83 car. In June 2011, reports indicated that Red Bull intended to withdraw from NASCAR after the season. The reported reasons included on-track struggles and difficulty connecting its outreach strategy with the desired 18-to-34-year-old audience. The team nevertheless ended its competition with a final victory: Kahne won the November race at Phoenix. Vickers finished 25th in the season standings, while Kahne finished fourteenth. Development driver Cole Whitt drove a third car in the final two races. Red Bull Racing Team suspended operations on December 8, 2011. Its cars, equipment, and owner points were subsequently acquired by Ron Devine, a former TRG Motorsports executive, for the creation of BK Racing.
History
Red Bull Racing Team was created in 2006 as a NASCAR project backed by Red Bull founders Dietrich Mateschitz and Chaleo Yoovidhya. The team acquired a former Roger Penske facility in Mooresville, North Carolina, and planned to build an organization of roughly 75 employees. Its intended manufacturer was Toyota, but Toyota was not cleared to compete at the start of the 2006 season. The new team therefore used Dodge cars obtained from Bill Davis Racing while it prepared its own operation. The organization made its first attempts at NASCAR Cup Series competition in 2006. Bill Elliott drove the No. 83 entry at Lowe's Motor Speedway, followed by attempts at Atlanta and Texas, but the team failed to qualify for each event. Brian Vickers was announced as a driver in June, and A. J. Allmendinger was selected as the second driver in October. Doug Richert, a former Cup Series champion crew chief, was appointed to lead Vickers's program for 2007. For 2007, Red Bull moved to Toyota equipment. The season began with both drivers failing to qualify for the Daytona 500. Vickers nevertheless qualified for the Auto Club 500 and earned the team's first top-ten finish. He later finished fifth in the Coca-Cola 600 after leading 76 laps. Allmendinger also became a regular competitor after early qualification problems, but his No. 84 entry finished only 43rd in the owners' standings and recorded 19 failures to qualify. Vickers finished 38th in the owners' standings and also missed 13 races. The team reorganized for 2008. Kevin Hamlin became Vickers's crew chief, and Jay Frye was involved in the team's management. The No. 83 group improved its performance and qualified for the races held up to that point, eventually receiving a top-35 exemption after the spring Bristol event. Allmendinger missed the first three races and was temporarily replaced by Mike Skinner. Upon returning, he adopted a silver paint scheme, won the Sprint Showdown, qualified for the All-Star Race, and later finished tenth at the Brickyard. He announced that he would leave for Richard Petty Motorsports in 2009. The 2009 season was the team's competitive peak. Scott Speed replaced Allmendinger in a renumbered No. 82 car, while Vickers remained in the No. 83. In August, Vickers won at Michigan, producing the team's first Cup Series victory. A strong late-season run then carried Vickers into the Chase for the Sprint Cup, the first playoff appearance in team history. He finished twelfth in the final points. Speed had a weaker season and finished well behind Joey Logano in the rookie standings. Vickers's medical problems changed the team's 2010 season. He missed the remainder of the campaign, and Red Bull used Casey Mears, Reed Sorenson, Mattias Ekström, Boris Said, and Kasey Kahne as replacements. Speed was released at the end of the year and subsequently filed a lawsuit against Red Bull. For 2011, Kahne became a full-time driver in the No. 4 car, formerly the No. 82, and Vickers returned to the No. 83. Cole Whitt drove a third No. 84 entry in the final two races. In June 2011, the Associated Press reported that Red Bull planned to leave NASCAR after the season. The reported factors were poor on-track results and an ineffective effort to connect with the 18-to-34 demographic. Kahne won the team's final race at Phoenix in November, while Vickers ended the season 25th and Kahne 14th in points. Red Bull Racing Team closed on December 8, 2011. Ron Devine acquired its cars, equipment, and owner points and used them to establish BK Racing.
- 2011
Final victory and closure
[1]Kasey Kahne won at Phoenix, and the team suspended operations on December 8. Its assets and owner points were acquired for BK Racing.
- 2009
First NASCAR victory and Chase qualification
[1]Vickers won at Michigan and later qualified for the Chase for the Sprint Cup for the first time in team history.
- 2008
Operational reorganization
[1]Kevin Hamlin became crew chief for Vickers, and the No. 83 team improved its qualification consistency.
- 2007
Transition to Toyota
[1]Red Bull changed from interim Dodge equipment to Toyota machinery for its second season.
- 2007
First top-five finish
[1]Brian Vickers finished fifth in the Coca-Cola 600 after leading 76 laps.
- 2006
Team established and Mooresville facility acquired
[1]The new Red Bull-backed NASCAR organization announced its purchase of a former Roger Penske facility and planned to hire approximately 75 workers.
- 2006
First NASCAR qualification attempts
[1]The team made unsuccessful Cup Series qualification attempts at Lowe's, Atlanta, and Texas.
Products and positioning
A beverage-brand-backed NASCAR team using professional stock-car racing, driver development, and high-visibility competition to extend the Red Bull identity into the United States motorsport market.
Motorsport competition · 2006
NASCAR Cup Series program
The team's principal activity was competing in NASCAR's premier stock-car series. Its entries included the No. 83 car and the second-car identities No. 82 and No. 4. The program used Dodge equipment during its initial 2006 season and Toyota equipment from 2007 onward. It produced the organization's only Cup Series victories, including Brian Vickers's 2009 Michigan win and Kasey Kahne's final victory at Phoenix in 2011.
Athlete development · 2007
Driver development program
The organization supported developing drivers alongside its principal Cup Series entries. Scott Speed and Cole Whitt are identified in the reference material as development or emerging drivers associated with the team.
Brand decisions
2011
Withdraw from NASCARStrategyBackground
The team experienced on-track difficulties and was reported to have struggled to connect with the targeted 18-to-34 demographic.
Action taken
Red Bull planned to leave NASCAR after the 2011 season and formally suspended operations on December 8.
Aftermath
Ron Devine acquired the team's cars, equipment, and owner points to form BK Racing.
2007
Switch to ToyotaStrategyBackground
Toyota became available to the team after its initial 2006 entry complications.
Action taken
The organization adopted Toyota as its manufacturer for the 2007 NASCAR season.
Aftermath
The team gradually improved its competitiveness, including a top-five result by Vickers.
2006
Use Dodge equipment during the launch seasonStrategyBackground
The team expected to use Toyota, but Toyota was not cleared to race at the beginning of the 2006 season.
Action taken
Red Bull used cars purchased from Bill Davis Racing to make its initial competition attempts with Dodge machinery.
Aftermath
The team transitioned to Toyota for the 2007 season.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/red-bull-racing-team · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled