Brian Vickers Can't Squander Third Chance with Michael Waltrip Racing

In life, everybody deserves a second chance. In NASCAR, not everybody gets one.

Which is why when a third chance comes along, one must take advantage of it.

Such is the case for Thomasville, NC driver Brian Vickers.

Vickers, a nine-year veteran of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, just inked a deal with Michael Waltrip Racing on Thursday to drive the No. 55 Aaron's Toyota in six races this season.

This is the same No. 55 Aaron's Toyota that Mark Martin has driven in the first two races of the season, the same No. 55 Aaron's Toyota that sat on the pole just one week ago at Phoenix and the same No. 55 Toyota that currently sits seventh in the standings.

For a driver just a few months removed from what appeared to be a career-ending meltdown, the chance to drive such a competitive race car is a very sweet deal.

Vickers has always been a controversial, if not polarizing, figure.

He won the 2003 NASCAR Nationwide — then Busch — Series title at the tender age of 20. But while he was a weekly contender in NASCAR's No. 2 series, his Sprint Cup career has been a turbulent one.

Vickers has always been ready and willing to speak his mind off the track. But as they say, actions speak louder than words, and Vickers' on-track actions have spoken volumes.

When Vickers won his first Sprint Cup race in 2006, he did so in the most controversial way.

Vickers was running third on the final lap of the UAW-Ford 500 at Talladega behind teammate Jimmie Johnson and fan-favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr. Going down the backstretch, Johnson attempted to move past Earnhardt and as he did so, Vickers turned Johnson into Earnhardt's No. 8 car and the two spun through the backstretch infield.

Vickers was met with a shower of beer cans from angry fans during his victory burnout.

Vickers had another run-in with Earnhardt in the 2009 Daytona 500.

While both drivers were a lap down after a restart, Earnhardt attempted to pass Vickers going down the backstretch. Vickers threw a hard block on Earnhardt, and when Earnhardt moved back up the track, he clipped Vickers and turned him into traffic causing a ten-car melee.

Vickers' 2009 season consisted of a few scuffles, but his 2011 season was by far the most trying.

Just over a year after blood clots sidelined him for most of the 2010 season, Vickers found himself in an on-track fight with Tony Stewart at the road course in Sonoma.

After Stewart had wrecked Vickers early in the race, Vickers retaliated late and took Stewart out so hard that his No. 14 car was left resting on the tire barriers in Turn 11.

Vickers would find trouble with the likable Marcos Ambrose at Richmond as well before his nightmarish race at Martinsville in October.

Vickers brought out the caution flag a total of five times in that race which included run-ins with Regan Smith, Jamie McMurray and most notably Chase driver Matt Kenseth.

Vickers then proceeded to do his reputation in by taking Kenseth out once more at Phoenix just two weeks later.

When all was said and done after the 2011 season, Vickers was left without a ride for 2012.

Perhaps it was because Team Red Bull, (the team Vickers had driven for since 2007 after Hendrick Motorsports released the then 23-year old), was shutting down for good. Or perhaps it was because of Vickers' on-track temperament.

Whatever the case, Vickers was the only full-time Cup driver from 2011 without a full-time ride for 2012 when the green flag waved at Daytona.

Yet Vickers isn't a poor choice for MWR to put in its No. 55 car.

With eight years of experience under his belt, Vickers has the expertise necessary to give the team some strong runs. Yet despite his experience, Vickers is still 19 months away from his 30th birthday, which gives him the advantage of still being able to grow.

But for Vickers, the six races he will run this season for MWR could be the biggest races of his career.

Should he do great and compete for wins, Vickers could earn himself a full-time deal in a fourth car for a team like Richard Childress Racing or Joe Gibbs Racing if they choose to expand.

Should he do alright, Vickers could still manage a ride with a low-budget Sprint Cup team or a well-funded Nationwide effort.

But should he melt down again, Vickers could be out of a ride for good.

Though only 28, Vickers has had two good opportunities to prove himself at the Sprint Cup level. And with young stars such as Justin Allgaier and Trevor Bayne waiting in the wings, sponsors have no reason to take another chance on Vickers.

Unless, in these six races, he proves otherwise.

The six races Vickers has on his schedule this year? Both Bristol races, both New Hampshire races and yes, both Martinsville races.

Brian Vickers has been given an opportunity most NASCAR drivers can only dream of: a third chance.

If he does well, it could bring about a career renaissance for the 2009 Chase driver.

But should he squander the opportunity, it could bring about an end to his Sprint Cup career.