Mark Martin To Replace Tony Stewart For Remainder Of Season

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By: Dustin Long – @dustinlong on August 19, 2013 | 2:45 P.M. EST
Tony Stewart will miss the remainder of the season, and Mark Martin will replace him in the No. 14 car, Stewart-Haas Racing announced Monday afternoon.
With Martin leaving Michael Waltrip Racing, Brian Vickers will take over the No. 55 ride, MWR announced Monday.
Stewart has been out since breaking his right leg Aug. 5 in a sprint car crash in Iowa. Stewart-Haas Racing stated that Stewart is expected to return to the car for preseason testing in Jan. 2014.
“Obviously, I’m disappointed to be out of the Bass Pro Shops/Mobil 1 Chevy for so long, but the team is in very good hands with Mark Martin and Austin Dillon,” Stewart said in a statement issued by the team. “Mark is someone I’ve looked up to my entire career, and I have a tremendous amount of respect for him.
“Austin is a great young talent, and he showed that Sunday at Michigan. Greg Zipadelli, Steve Addington (crew chief) and everybody at SHR supports them 100 percent. This isn’t a situation anyone wanted, but we’re going to make the best of it. In the meantime, my focus is on getting healthy and getting back into my Bass Pro Shops/Mobil 1 Chevy.”
Martin will drive Stewart’s car in 12 of the 13 remaining NASCAR Sprint Cup races. Austin Dillon will drive Stewart’s car at Talladega.
“After consulting with Tony’s doctors and speaking with Tony, we agreed it was best for him to focus on his recovery,” said Greg Zipadelli, SHR competition director, in a statement. “For the No. 14 team, our focus is on positioning them for a run at the owner championship. Mark Martin and Austin Dillon give us the best opportunity to do that, and we certainly appreciate Michael Waltrip Racing and Richard Childress Racing for making Mark and Austin available to us.”
Vickers, who has signed to drive full time for Michael Waltrip Racing next season, will get an early start on that. He will drive the No. 55 car for MWR in 12 of the remaining 13 races. Michael Waltrip will drive the car at Talladega.

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