Vickers to replace Nemechek in 2004.

Brian Vickers will bring his NASCAR Busch Series sponsors GMAC to the 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series with Rick Hendrick's #25 Chevrolet Monte Carlo team.

19 year-old Vickers has won two races thus far in his first full time Busch campaign with the #5 GMAC team, owned by Rick Hendrick's son Ricky, and sits second in the points table, just 48 behind David Green with eight races remaining this season. He will replace Joe Nemechek in the #25 Chevrolet currently sponsored by UAW-Delphi.

Although he will only be 20 by the time the 2004 Daytona 500 rolls around, Vickers has faith that his team have made the right decision in moving him into the premier class so quickly.

"You know, a lot of that decision was left up to Rick Hendrick and the Hendrick Motorsports organization, and the managers and everybody involved," said Vickers, who has already notched victories at Indianapolis Raceway Park and Darlington Raceway this season. "I always said that when they thought that I was ready, I would go. That's where I was really fortunate. I did not have to concern myself with as much as most people would because they know and they can make the decision for me without me having to worry about it."

While not aiming for the kind of rookie season enjoyed by Jimmie Johnson and Ryan Newman in 2002, Vickers believes he can fight for honours during his first year. "Personally, and I am sure the team feels the same way, we want to go out there and try to gain as much experience as possible, try to complete every lap, and if we do that and if we be consistent, and we stay out of trouble and finish races, the top-10s and the top-fives, and hopefully even the wins will come, just like they did this year. You just have to be patient. If you do all of that, then you know the points will come. That's my goal next year, to try and get as much experience as possible, be there at the end of the race and that other stuff will hopefully come."

The #25 team has persistently been the weakest link in the four car Hendrick Winston Cup stable, even more so now with Terry Labonte's return to form this season and although Nemechek won earlier this season at the Richmond International Raceway, success has been sparse for 'Front Row Joe' since he joined the team mid way through the 2002 campaign. Nemechek is currently 26th in the driver's table with just four top ten finishes this season.