Mooresville, NC – Kasey Kahne will run a partial schedule for JR Motorsports during the 2013 Nationwide Series season, the team announced on Wednesday.
JR Motorsports also revealed that it has signed a primary sponsorship agreement with Great Clips for 28 Nationwide races next season.
JRM, which is co-owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr., finalized its driver lineup for this year. Kahne, a Sprint Cup Series regular, and Brad Sweet, who ran a partial Nationwide schedule this past season, will split time in the No. 5 Chevrolet for 27 races. Regan Smith will run a full 33-race Nationwide schedule in JRM's No. 7 Chevrolet. Earnhardt Jr. will drive a third car for the organization in select events.
"The last three months have been critical for the direction of JR Motorsports and the commitment we've made, and this partnership with Great Clips is a major step in the right direction," team general manager Kelley Earnhardt Miller said in a statement. "To sign a 28-race sponsor while adding Kasey Kahne and Brad Sweet to our line-up is quite extraordinary. Our goal is still to run two full-time teams, and this helps us greatly to achieve that."
Kahne and Sweet shared driving duties in Turner Motorsports' No. 38 Chevrolet during the 2012 Nationwide season, with Great Clips sponsoring that team's efforts. Great Clips and Turner have announced the end of their partnership.
Kahne and Earnhardt Jr. are Sprint Cup teammates at Hendrick Motorsports, and both drivers made the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship this past season. Great Clips will sponsor Kahne in three Cup races this upcoming season.
Patrick, who drove the No. 7 for JRM in Nationwide last season, is running a full-time schedule for Stewart-Haas Racing in Sprint Cup this year.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.