Sources: Whitt to join JR Motorsports

Cole Whitt is expected to join JR Motorsports as a full-time NASCAR Nationwide Series driver for the 2012 season. Whitt, 20, will be named as the driver of the organization's No. 88 entry, sources have told FOXSports.com. The 20-year-old will replace Aric Almirola, who finished fourth in the series standings in 2011 and confirmed Wednesday that he was moving to the Sprint Cup Series with Richard Petty Motorsports for the 2012 season. Whitt competed full time in the Camping World Truck Series in 2011, finishing ninth overall in the series standings after earning 11 top-10 finishes, two of them top fives. Overall, he has two Sprint Cup starts, three Nationwide series starts and 26 Truck races to his credit. He will compete for the Sunoco Rookie title and Nationwide Series championship, racing as a teammate to Danica Patrick, who will also be running her first full season in the series.