JRM adds Kahne, Sweet
Tuesday, Jan. 01, 2013
Getty Images for NASCAR
RIDGEWAY, VA - OCTOBER 27: Kasey Kahne, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, walks in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Tums Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 27, 2012 in Ridgeway, Virginia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images for NASCAR)
Getty Images for NASCAR
RIDGEWAY, VA - OCTOBER 26: Kasey Kahne, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, stands in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Tums Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 26, 2012 in Ridgeway, Virginia. (Photo by John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR)
Drivers Kasey Kahne and Brad Sweet officially became the newest additions to JR Motorsports' Nationwide Series program.
JRM announced a 27-race schedule for Kahne and Sweet for 2013 in its No. 5 Chevrolet with sponsorship from Great Clips, which has had a relationship with Kahne since 2003.
If sponsorship is found for the remaining six races, the No. 5 team could run a full season. Regan Smith will compete for the series championship in JRM's No. 7 Chevrolet and team co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. will drive several races in the No. 88 - one with sponsorship from Great Clips.
"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," said general manager Kelley Earnhardt Miller.
"To sign a 28-race sponsor while adding Kasey Kahne and Brad Sweet to our lineup is quite extraordinary. Our goal is still to run two fulltime teams and this helps us greatly to achieve that."
Kahne has 14 wins in the Sprint Cup Series and seven in the Nationwide Series. He drove two races for JRM in 2011 and is currently a teammate with Earnhardt at Hendrick Motorsports.
Sweet, a standout in the United States Auto Club series, has driven for Kasey Kahne racing since 2007.
Kahne and Sweet's schedule has not yet been set but Kahne is expected to run no more than 15 races.
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