Is Danica Patrick switching teams?

Turner Motorsports is losing a sponsor but apparently could be gaining a driver who should attract plenty of interest from the companies that help fuel NASCAR team budgets.

ESPNW.com reported Wednesday morning that Danica Patrick will drive 10 Nationwide Series races for Turner in 2013, starting with the Feb. 23 season opener at Daytona International Speedway. In the Daytona 500 the following day, Patrick will begin her first full-time season in the Sprint Cup Series, driving the No. 10 Chevrolet for Stewart-Haas Racing.

An official close to Patrick with direct knowledge of the talks told USA TODAY Sports a deal was expected to be completed pending sponsorship. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because a deal with Turner wasn’t yet finalized.

Patrick left the Izod IndyCar Series last year for a full-time move into NASCAR, finishing 10th in the Nationwide standings with JR Motorsports.

The team co-owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr. announced Wednesday that Great Clips signed as a 28-race primary sponsor, mostly backing drivers Kasey Kahne and Brad Sweet.

Great Clips had sponsored the No. 38 Chevrolet of Turner Motorsports the past two seasons. The team said it soon would be announcing plans for 2013 but didn’t confirm Patrick nor a replacement sponsor.

With the addition of Great Clips, JRM is closer to its goal of running two full-time teams this year. More at Indy Star