Brian Vickers said Friday that he’ll be back in the No. 14 car for Tony Stewart at Martinsville Speedway.
Vickers is driving the Stewart-Haas Racing car this weekend at Auto Club Speedway with sponsorship from Janssen Arnie’s Army Charitable Foundation. That sponsor will be on Vickers’ car April 3 at Martinsville.
“As of right now, I’ll be in Martinsville,’' Vickers said. “We’re figuring out everything from there. I think everyone is really just kind of waiting to see how Tony shakes out. I can genuinely and honestly say this, as much as I want to race this car as long as I can because it’s a great team and a great car and a great opportunity, I really want to see Tony back in it.
“I’ve been in his shoes. I know exactly what it’s like. It’s his last season. He deserves to be in this car as much as he can be. I’m honored to race it as long as I need to, as long as I can, but I’m happy to turn the keys back over as soon as he’s ready.’'
Vickers has driven the No. 14 car in the Daytona 500 (26th-place finish) and at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (36th) this season. Ty Dillon drove the car at Atlanta (17th) and Phoenix (15th).
Stewart said earlier this month that the plan was for Dillon to drive the car when Bass Pro Shops is the sponsor and that Vickers would drive the car in other races. Stewart has not stated a timetable for his return to racing after he suffered a burst fracture of the L1 vertebra in a sand dunes accident Jan. 31. He was cleared by doctors to begin a rehab program March 9.