JR Motorsports interested in Kelly Bires for 2010 Nationwide ride
NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Kelly Bires could be driving for JR Motorsports next season. // David Griffin, NASCAR Scene
HAMPTON, Ga. – Driver Kelly Bires and JR Motorsports co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. share a mutual interest in joining forces next season in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.
The only question is when – and if – they will.
The recent announcement of Brad Keselowski’s departure from the No. 88 JR Motorsports entry at season’s end leaves a full-time vacancy in one of the Chevrolets that Earnhardt Jr. co-owns with Rick Hendrick. Plans for the organization’s No. 5 team also remain in the works, possibly giving Bires another way in.
Several drivers, including Earnhardt Jr., have spent time in the No. 5 seat this season.
“Kelly is a good kid,” Earnhardt Jr. said after finishing third in Saturday night’s Nationwide race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. “I’ve watched him for a couple of years. He’s got some opportunities to do a couple of different things next year. We’ve talked to him about working with us and he seems excited about that opportunity. We’re working with him and pitching him to several partners we have, and hopefully, the new partners that sign up with us.
“The 5 car is pretty much wide open. So we’re looking at a lot of different drivers and combinations and seeing what is the best opportunity for us and the driver himself. We’re looking at a lot of different directions with that team and hopefully we will put something together.”
Bires indicated on Saturday at AMS that he would be open to the idea of driving the No. 5 or No. 88 JR Motorsports entry and expressed a clear interest in the organization, which has won races with both its cars in the last two Nationwide seasons.
“I would love to be able to drive one of their cars,” said Bires, 25. “Great team, great equipment, great people. If it comes to, then it will be a good deal.”
Bires has spent 2009 jumping from one team to another in a series of select appearances, including one Saturday night at Atlanta for CJM Racing. He would rather stick with a single team, though.
“It’s extremely difficult to work with a new group of people week in and week out, but I’ve been fortunate enough to get in good equipment,” said Bires, who has driven for CJM, Braun Racing, Kevin Harvick Inc., MSRP Motorsports and JTG Daugherty Racing. “Everyone’s given me a great opportunity, given me everything I need to work with so we can get good finishes.”
Bires has three top-10s, two of them top-fives, in 11 starts this season.
“For what I’ve done I think we’ve done a great job,” Bires said. “ … Working with people I’ve never worked with, it’s been good. I think we’ve done the best we can with what we’ve had.”
Bires expects an announcement about his future to be just around the corner.
“I would think the sooner the better, so I think the next couple weeks are going to be real critical and I think you’ll see something come in the next couple weeks,” he said.
