David Ragan moving to Michael Waltrip Racing, per report

Although the 2015 season is just a few months old, David Ragan is preparing to join his third team by moving to Michael Waltrip Racing within the next few weeks.

Ragan will shift to MWR from Joe Gibbs Racing for the May 9 race at Kansas Speedway, according to the Charlotte Observer. The seat Ragan will vacate at JGR is to be filled by Erik Jones, who will command the No. 18 car until regular driver Kyle Busch returns from injuries suffered in a February crash at Daytona International Speedway.

When Ragan jumps to MWR to wheel its No. 55 Toyota, he will again serve as a replacement for a driver who’s currently sidelined by health issues. Brian Vickers returned at Las Vegas Motor Speedway after missing the first two races of the season due to blood clots, only for a reoccurrence to indefinitely take him out of the car two weeks later.

MWR named Brett Moffitt to substitute for Vickers, but the 22-year-old has limited experience in NASCAR’s top division. The team is hoping Ragan, who is a nine-year veteran and the winner of two Sprint Cup races, will provide greater competitiveness and consistency.

Since finishing ninth in his first start in the No. 55 Toyota, Moffitt’s best result is a 17th with an average finish of 24.7. Ragan had been 10th in points before dropping eight positons following an accident last week at Bristol Motor Speedway. MWR co-owner Michael Waltrip will replace Moffitt next week at Talladega Superspeedway.

“I love Brett, I love his spirit,” Waltrip told the Associated Press. “He’s 22 years old, not a lot of experience, and he came out of the gates running. He’s done everything we could have hoped for him to do with his amount of experience and where our cars are, and I know he’s thankful for the opportunity. It was something he didn’t have on his radar when the season started, but because of the health challenges Brian is facing, he got this chance. I think he’s done a nice job.”

The series of dominoes was spurred first by Busch’s accident where he broke his right leg and left foot, then by JGR wanting to get Jones in a Cup car. The 18-year-old is viewed as one of NASCAR’s rising talents.

“I think Erik has a very bright future,” Joe Gibbs said at Bristol. “I think it’s going to be fun to work with him in the future.”

The series of dominoes puts Ragan in a better position to secure a full-time ride for 2016. With JGR at the NASCAR-imposed four-team cap and Jones’ ascension, Ragan’s future with the organization wasn’t going to go past this season.

Over at MWR, Ragan will have a chance to earn a permanent opportunity in the No. 55 car since Vickers’ return is unknown. Because he is currently on blood thinners, Vickers is not permitted to race for fear of bleeding out if he were in an accident.