“I'm looking forward to this new opportunity with JR Motorsports," said Brad Sweet. "As a young driver in this sport, having the chance to drive under the JR Motorsports banner is an amazing opportunity that I plan to make the most of. The 2013 season is 'gonna be great' and I can't wait to get it started."
While not yet confirmed, industry sources have told
ESPN that Turner Motorsports' Nationwide operation is close to inking a ten-race deal with Danica Patrick to race for them in this year's championship, with sponsorship from GoDaddy.com. Talladega and Watkins Glen are expected to be among the events that Patrick would elect to run.
Patrick finished her first full Nationwide season in tenth place in 2012 - the highest final position for a woman in a national-level
NASCAR championship - and will move to Sprint Cup full-time this season with Stewart/Haas Racing. However, the additional ten outings in the second-tier series would give her valuable extra experience of key tracks during the season.
Turner has a history of servicing partial Nationwide programs for Cup drivers, and last season they put Kasey Kahne into 15 races. Turner's full time entry Justin Allgaier finished in sixth place in the overall championship standings.
Turner Motorsports also confirmed this week that it had closed a full-season deal for James Buescher in the
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, putting him back behind the wheel of the team's #31 Chevrolet Silverado with which he won the 2012 title.
"Last season was a dream come true for me," said Buescher, who clinched four wins, ten top-fives and 14 top tens on his way to last year's title. "I had always dreamed of winning a
NASCAR championship. I am most excited about the opportunity to compete to become the first driver to win the NCWTS championship in back-to-back seasons."