Vickers to Drive for Joe Gibbs Racing in 2013

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Huntersville, NC (November 6, 2012) – Joe Gibbs Racing announced today that it has signed a new expanded partnership agreement with Dollar General for the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. The new agreement means Matt Kenseth, the 2003 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion, will drive Dollar General’s familiar yellow and black No. 20 car in 17 Sprint Cup Races next season beginning with the Daytona 500 in February. Kenseth, a two-time Daytona 500 winner, is the current defending champion of the Great American Race. In addition, Dollar General will return to the NASCAR Nationwide Series and will compete with a full championship season sponsorship with Brian Vickers at the wheel.

“We are very excited about growing our partnership with Joe Gibbs Racing,” said Rick Dreiling, Dollar General’s chairman and CEO. “NASCAR effectively reaches our customers, and our racing program has proven to be successful in helping us build our brand. We’re thrilled to have Matt Kenseth and Brian Vickers driving Dollar General branded race cars next season.”

Vickers will return to the Nationwide Series on a fulltime basis in 2013, 10 years after he won three Nationwide races and became the youngest driver to win the Series Championship at the age of 20. Most recently, Vickers spent the 2012 season driving a partial NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule for Michael Waltrip Racing, where he finished in the top 10 in five starts including three top-five efforts. He has two career wins in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Since 2003, Vickers has continued to compete in the Nationwide Series, often driving the Dollar General car.

“I am fortunate to have raced with Dollar General before, and I am so excited to be reunited with Rick (Dreiling) and everyone involved with their program,” said Vickers. “Dollar General is a tremendous company, and its support and enthusiasm for racing is outstanding. I’m very happy to stay in the Toyota family, and when you look at the Nationwide Series over the past several years, no team has dominated like Joe Gibbs Racing. Hopefully we’ll be able to get Dollar General, Toyota and JGR a Nationwide Series Championship next season.”

“We look forward to our expanded partnership with Dollar General in both our Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series’ programs for next season,” said Joe Gibbs, owner and founder of JGR. “With Matt (Kenseth) and Brian (Vickers) we feel well positioned to deliver great visibility and winning results for the Dollar General brand. Matt is obviously a great talent, and his experience will be invaluable to our race team. Brian has proven to be successful in everything he has raced.”

The 2013 season will mark Dollar General’s ninth year of NASCAR sponsorship, which will also continue to include two NASCAR Nationwide Series race sponsorships: The Dollar General 300 race at Charlotte Motor Speedway and The Dollar General 300 Powered by Coca-Cola at Chicagoland Speedway.

“Dollar General is a fantastic partner for us at Joe Gibbs Racing, and it’s exciting to see how well the company uses its program to support its branding and marketing efforts,” said J.D. Gibbs, president of JGR. “They have a tremendous enthusiasm for our sport, and I know Matt (Kenseth) and Brian (Vickers) are looking forward to representing Dollar General and having a lot of success on the track.” 

Official Joe Gibbs Racing Press Release