with the closing of red bull's racing program after the 2011 season, whitt signed a contract with jr motorsports to drive that team's no. 88 chevrolet in the nationwide series in 2012, competing for rookie of the year honors. he also competed on a start and park basis in the sprint cup series in selected races for turn one racing and circle sport. at the october talladega race, whitt was running in the top 15 before a crash involving carl edwards and joey logano took out whitt on lap 17.