Brian Vickers to drive full NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule for Joe Gibbs Racing

Brian Vickers is back in NASCAR on a full-time basis – just not in the Sprint Cup Series.

Vickers, now a part-time Cup driver for Michael Waltrip Racing, added a full-time Nationwide Series schedule to his racing calendar on Tuesday when Joe Gibbs Racing signed him to run a Dollar General-sponsored car.

When he gets in top-tier equipment at JGR, Vickers can contend for a championship in the series where he won the 2003 title.

Previously, Vickers had full-time Cup rides at Hendrick Motorsports and Red Bull Racing, but lost his ride when Red Bull folded after last season. He shined in the partial schedule for MWR this season, though, and rebuilt his reputation enough to get more opportunities (Vickers will still drive nine Cup races for MWR next year as well).

“When you look at the Nationwide Series over the past several years, no team has dominated like Joe Gibbs Racing,” Vickers said in a statement. “Hopefully we’ll be able to get Dollar General, Toyota and JGR a Nationwide Series championship next season.”

Vickers has previously driven a Dollar General car in the Nationwide Series for Braun Racing and Turner Motorsports.

Though it hasn’t been announced yet, Vickers is expected to have a full-time teammate at JGR: Elliott Sadler, who has already said he’s leaving Richard Childress Racing after the season.

JGR will likely field Vickers and Sadler as its regular entries and run a third car driven by a mix of other racers on its roster, such as Matt Kenseth, Denny Hamlin and development driver Darrell Wallace Jr.

Dollar General also announced it will sponsor Kenseth for 17 Cup races next season, including the Daytona 500.