Updated

Brian Vickers feels healthy enough to race. If he could promise his doctors he wouldn't crash, he'd be in the car Sunday at Martinsville Speedway.

Vickers was diagnosed with a blood clot in his right calf Oct. 14. He has been sidelined for the final five races of the season because he's taking blood thinners. He said Sunday that if he crashed, the thinners would make it impossible for doctors to stop internal bleeding.

But Vickers says he'll be on the medication for only three months and will be able to resume his seat with Michael Waltrip Racing in time for next season's Daytona 500.

Vickers missed 25 races in 2010 while recovering from heart surgery and blood clots in his legs.