Brian Vickers to miss remainder of 2013 season due to blood clot in right leg

Brian Vickers to miss remainder of 2013 season due to blood clot in right leg, Brian Vickers will miss the rest of the year after he was placed on blood thinners because of a blood clot in his right calf.

Vickers missed half of the 2010 season because of blood clots in his left leg and lungs when he was at Red Bull Racing. He was able to return for the 2011 season. He's expected to be ready for the start of the 2014 season as well after Monday's news.

It was announced earlier this season that Vickers would drive Michael Waltrip Racing's No. 55 full-time in 2014.

“If there’s anything to be positive about with today’s news it’s that this is only a temporary setback,” Vickers said in a statement. “The timing for this is never good, but I’m glad we’ll get it out of the way now and be ready to run for a championship with the Aaron’s Dream Machine in 2014.”

Waltrip was already scheduled to run Talladega, and the team will announce a replacement for Vickers in the final four Cup races of the year at a later date. Vickers assumed the majority of the driving duties of the No. 55 this season after his win at New Hampshire when a release was negotiated for Mark Martin to drive Tony Stewart's No. 14 after Stewart's broken leg.

Vickers will also miss the final three Nationwide Series races this season. He was driving full-time in Joe Gibbs Racing's No. 20 car and is currently eighth in the standings, 97 points behind leader Austin Dillon.