JR Motorsports Expands Nationwide Effort

March 19, 2009 4:00 p.m. EST

Concord, NC (AHN) - JR Motorsports announced it has expanded its effort for the No. 5 NASCAR Nationwide Series team.

Drivers Ryan Newman, Scott Wimmer, Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Mark Martin will combine to run 21 races this season in JR Motorsports ride. Wimmer will compete in six events, Newman in four and Stewart's one race will be at Lowe's Motor Speedway on Oct. 16.

"This No. 5 team carries a strong tradition and a lot of expectations, and we are fortunate to attract such quality talent to help carry on that tradition," Earnhardt Jr. said. "We had a similar set-up with this team last year, and we were able to go to Victory Lane twice. Obviously with this driver line-up, there's no reason we can't exceed last year's win total."

The team has yet to announce who will drive the ride at Watkins Glen on Aug. 8 and Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on Aug. 30. Newman will drive at Dover International Speedway on May 30, Chicagoland Speedway on July 10, Michigan International Speedway on Aug. 15, and Kansas Speedway on Oct. 3.

Wimmer will run on Darlington Raceway on May 8, The Milwaukee Mile on June 20, O'Reilly Raceway Park on July 25, Iowa Speedway on Aug. 1, Bristol Motor Speedway on Aug. 21, and Richmond International Raceway on Sept. 11.

"I will be running at tracks that have been good for me in the past and look forward to my first event with JR Motorsports at Darlington in May,'' said Wimmer. "Hopefully, we can get the Fastenal car in the Winners Circle." Junior will run the April 4 race at Texas Motor Speedway and Martin will drive on May 1 at Richmond International Raceway.