Red Bull Racing driver Brian Vickers announced Saturday he has been medically cleared to return to the Sprint Cup series next season.

Vickers said he had heart surgery to repair the hole July 12. A stent was placed in a vein in his left leg a day later.

The 26-year-old Vickers said his choices were to undergo the heart surgery, or “not to close it and run the risk of having a stroke.

“I would rather die than have a stroke,” he said. “I don’t wan to run the risk of living like a vegetable.”

The driver of the No. 83 Red Bull Toyota said he will be off blood thinners prescribed for the clots by early- to mid-January and ready to return to NASCAR’s premier series in time for the February Daytona 500.

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