from Brian Vickers.com

Brian Vickers will drive the No. 25 UAW-Delphi Chevrolet in the final four NASCAR Winston Cup Series races of 2003 it was announced today by Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick.

Vickers will succeed Joe Nemechek, who was named driver of the No. 01 Winston Cup entry this afternoon. Nemechek, 40, will compete at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway in the No. 25 Chevy before moving full-time to MB2 Motorsports the following week at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

“This opportunity affords both Brian and Joe the chance to get a jump on next season with their new teams,” Hendrick said. “It’s something that we all feel is mutually beneficial for the drivers and organizations alike.

“Joe led the No. 25 team back to Victory Lane and handled himself like a genuine professional from Day One. We truly appreciate everything he’s done for Hendrick Motorsports, both on the race track and off.”

Originally scheduled to drive the No. 01 car in the final four Winston Cup events of 2003, Vickers will pilot the No. 25 Chevy at Atlanta, Phoenix, Rockingham, N.C., and the season finale at Homestead, Fla. He will drive the car full-time next season with primary sponsorship from GMAC Financial Services.

Vickers, who will turn 20 on Oct. 24, made his Winston Cup debut at Lowe’s Motor Speedway on Saturday, starting 20th and finishing 33rd in the No. 60 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy. With five races remaining in 2003, the Thomasville, N.C., native is currently second in the NASCAR Busch Series championship standings with three victories and 18 top-10 finishes.