Brian Vickers, who made last year's Chase for the Sprint Cup, and Reed Sorenson, who is without a Cup ride, will split seat time in the No. 32 Toyota for Braun Racing in the Nationwide Series this season, the organization announced Thursday. Trent Owens will return as crew chief for the Dollar General-sponsored ride.
Vickers, the 2003 Nationwide champion, will compete in 10 races. Sorenson will take over driving duties for 23 races. A driver has yet to be named for the road-course events.
Vickers, who pilots the No. 83 Toyota for Red Bull Racing in Sprint Cup, has run a limited schedule for Braun Racing for the last three years. He drove the No. 32 entry for 17 races in 2009, earning seven top-five and 11 top-10 finishes.
“I am happy to be back with Braun Racing and Dollar General in 2010,” Vickers said. “It is a family that I am honored to be a part of. Crew chief Trent Owens and I have great chemistry and our team has a rock solid foundation going into next season. Running in the Nationwide Series is a lot of fun. I’m able to run at tracks where I know we will run well together, focusing on putting the car in victory lane. We came close to a few wins in 2009 and we will capitalize on what we learned for a great 2010.”
Sorenson has spent four years in Sprint Cup, having driven for Chip Ganassi Racing and most recently for Richard Petty Motorsports in the No. 43 Dodge. He lost his Cup ride after the 2009 season, following a merger between Richard Petty Motorsports and Yates Racing.
Sorenson made five starts for Braun Racing in 2009, driving the team's No. 32 and No. 10 entries. He has three wins in the Nationwide Series.
“I look forward to returning to Braun Racing and the No. 32 Dollar General car,” Sorenson said. “Braun Racing is a great organization and I am excited to be a part of its future. I know they will provide me with the opportunities that every driver wants – to be in solid equipment and to win races. I’m also honored to be driving for Dollar General, one of the top teams in the NNS. 2010 looks very bright indeed.”
Braun Racing owner Todd Braun is very pleased with the 2010 driver lineup for the No. 32 car.
“I am very happy to have Vickers and Sorenson back at Braun Racing next year,” Braun said. “We will have a strong group of veterans behind the wheel of the No. 32 Dollar General Toyota and I think we are in position to have a solid season and contend for the 2010 owner’s championship.”
The No. 32 Toyota ended the 2009 Nationwide season seventh in owner points.
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