Michael Waltrip Racing has scheduled a ‘major media announcement” for Tuesday morning at the Hall of Fame. The release has the Aarons logo and a picture of Brian Vickers on it. Vickers has split the #55 with Mark Martin the last couple years and is widely expected to be the full time driver next season.(8-12-2013) UPDATE: Brian Vickers on Tuesday will be named the full-time driver of the #55 Michael Waltrip Racing Sprint Cup car for 2014, sources close to the situation told ESPN.com. Team officials were not available for comment, but team owner Michael Waltrip has made it clear for several months that Vickers was his choice to take over the 55 car after this season.( ESPN )(8-12-2013) UPDATE 2: Aarons announced it has reached a multi-year agreement [2 year deal] to sponsor Brian Vickers in Michael Waltrip Racings (MWR) #55 Toyota Camry in every NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. ‘We at Aarons are thrilled about this partnership. Were building a championship organization and we know that Brian Vickers and the No. 55 team, under Michael Waltrips tradition of winning, are focused on building a championship caliber team’ said Ronald W. Allen, Aarons Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. ‘So many of our customers are enthusiastic and loyal NASCAR fans and we are proud to be a part of a sport they are passionate about. We are looking forward to continued success with Brian Vickers both on and off the track.” Vickers has raced the #55 on a part-time basis the last two seasons for MWR posting several impressive performances including his third career victory at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 14. Beginning in 2014, hell pilot the #55 Aarons Dream Machine with a fresh new paint scheme, unveiled today at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C. in every race. ‘I cant put into words how this makes me feel’ said 29-year-old Vickers. ‘Ive really found my home at MWR over the past few years, and Ive enjoyed getting to know the Aarons associates and customers. I am honored that Aarons is welcoming me into their family full-time. Knowing that I have a top-notch team and a dedicated sponsor for a full season is a really great feeling every driver dreams about, and like everyone else, I want to win races and win a championship. Michael and co-owner Rob Kauffman are really building something special at MWR and are giving me the tools to accomplish those goals.” ‘Aarons is a cornerstone to MWRs success. This is a big announcement today because it shows a tremendous vote of confidence in the sport of NASCAR and the entire Michael Waltrip Racing organization’ said Michael Waltrip, founder and co-owner of Michael Waltrip Racing. ‘The relationship with Aarons is very personal to me because they helped place Michael Waltrip Racing on the map in 2000 when I was running a half dozen Nationwide Series races from a small garage in my backyard. Now they are enabling MWR to continue its growth as we will have three drivers racing for the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship in 2014 and beyond. So much of this confidence comes from the NASCAR fans who continue to support the sponsors of our teams. I want to sincerely thank the NASCAR fans who are Aarons customers because you make this all happen’ said Waltrip.( MWR )
