Brian Vickers To Sub For Tony Stewart

The official word is expected on Friday, but rumors out of Daytona indicate Brian Vickers will replace injured driver Tony Stewart for the NASCAR season opener at Daytona International Speedway. Stewart-Haas Racing has scheduled a Friday news conference to discuss its plans for the #14 Chevrolet.

A person familiar with the situation spoke on condition of anonymity because the team is awaiting word from NASCAR on whether Vickers is medically cleared to race. Vickers ran only two races last season before suffering a recurrence of blood clots. He cannot race while being treated for the clots because the blood thinners increase his risk of serious internal bleeding if he crashes. Vickers is only expected to run at Daytona, which opens on Friday ahead of the Feb. 21 season-opening Daytona 500.

[VIA - Jayski]