It's Brian Vickers for now, but lots of uncertainty at SHR

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Stewart-Haas Racing on Friday confirmed Brian Vickers as the temporary replacement driver for injured Tony Stewart but revealed little about the No. 14 team’s future beyond the next two weeks at Daytona International Speedway.

Vickers is scheduled to drive Stewart’s Chevrolet in Saturday night’s Sprint Unlimited exhibition race and in qualifying, practice and the Daytona 500 on Feb. 21, NASCAR's version of the Super Bowl.

Stewart, who suffered a broken back Jan. 31 in an all-terrain vehicle accident, is expected to be out indefinitely, but SHR president Brett Frood said Friday that the team has not selected a replacement driver or drivers beyond Daytona. This is Stewart's final season on NASCAR's premier circuit and the team has said he is expected to return at some point.

“It’s fluid,” Frood said. “We’ve got multiple partners and different considerations with respective sponsors. Don’t be surprised to see Brian in the car, and we also might have other drivers.”

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Frood said Vickers was chosen as the team’s Daytona driver “because we came here to win. We feel the guy to my right (Vickers) can get it done for us.

“We wanted to focus on Speedweeks. Then we’ll figure out Atlanta (the schedule’s second race) and the rest.”

Stewart had surgery three days after the accident and has begun rehabilitation. During the news conference, Stewart held one of his own, via the social media app Periscope. He showed fans he was up and walking on a treadmill and answered some questions. It was his first public appearance since his accident.

Frood said no more surgeries are scheduled for the veteran driver before he returns, but Stewart said he will have to have another surgery at the end of the year to remove rods from his back and leg (injured in a 2013 sprint car crash).

“Obviously, Tony had an impactful injury, and the surgery was very important, along with the rehabilitation and healing process,” he said. “He was itching to get in the car about two weeks ago, and he’s itching to get in the car again. We’re taking it day by day.

“We don’t have a timetable right now (for Stewart’s return). It’s up to the doctors and how quickly the bones heal.”

Several doctors with experience treating similar injuries told USA TODAY Sports that Stewart probably will miss several months of racing.

Vickers, who has wrestled with health issues in recent years, ran two times last year before being sidelined by blood clots, a recurring issue. He has been medically cleared by NASCAR to race this year.

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“I’ve been living my life and waiting for the right opportunity,” Vickers said. “I told myself if I was going to come back to racing, particularly in the Sprint Cup Series, I wanted to be in a car I was confident could win.

“It’s unfortunate that this is the car I’m in because that means Tony is not here. I have a tremendous amount of respect for Tony. I’m honored to keep the seat warm until he gets back.”

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Over the past several years, Vickers said, “My life has been a rollercoaster, to say the least. It’s one day at a time. I’ve learned so many times you can only plan so far ahead.

“Live life to the fullest. I love what I do. I love this. I’m going to love what’s next. Right now I’m focused on enjoying the Daytona 500.”

Frood also said SHR is “working through the finishing touches” of buying a NASCAR charter from Rob Kauffman, former co-owner of Michael Waltrip Racing. Kauffman was awarded two charters in NASCAR’s new team owner system this week. SHR received three and is in the process of buying a fourth for the No. 41 team with Kurt Busch driving.

Frood joked that SHR is trading motor oil, subway sandwiches and beer to Kauffman for the charter.

Follow Hembree on Twitter @mikehembree

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