Kelly Bires Out at JR Motorsports

(Photo by Brandon W. Mudd)

NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Kelly Bires was released from the No. 88 JR Motorsports this morning due to what team general manager Kelley Earnhardt called a lack of chemistry. Joplin, Mo., native and Daytona 500 winner Jamie McMurray will step into the car this weekend and will compete with that team, led by Tony Eury Sr., in eight additional races. There has been no word as to who will race that car, as well as the No. 7 JRM car, at Gateway International Raceway July 17 in the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250. The driver of the No. 88 car is also TBD for the Oct. 23 NNS race at Gateway. Danica Patrick is scheduled to drive the No. 7 at that event. There was no response to an e-mail sent to JRM at the time this post was published.

Bires started racing with JRM late last year and was supposed to compete for the Nationwide Series championship. The Wisconsin native faced adversity early in the season when he was bumped from his car in the season opener at Daytona for Patrick. Dale Earnhardt Jr., the co-owner of JR Motorsports, was in the other car and it was announced the the team did not have the funding the field a third car.

“We are extremely appreciative of Kelly Bires and wish him the best,” Kelley Earnhardt said. “Internally, it was evident the chemistry that is imperative for us to succeed in this highly competitive industry was simply not there. That is the fault of no one person. We owe it to our fans and sponsors to make necessary adjustments in an effort to put our best product on the track, and we’ll continue evaluating our progress until we are confident that our full potential is being reached.”

In five of the six races on the schedule this year, Bires had a best finish of seventh at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., and finished on the lead lap in four of those five races. On his official Twitter account after his release was made public, Bires said, "Not a good day. I know I belong and will be successful in this sport. JRM gave me an opportunity, it just didn't work out."

Both JR Motorsports are still expected to run the full season. Originally just scheduled for a limited number of events with Patrick behind the wheel, the No. 7 team is now racing the full compliment of races with drivers such as Scott Wimmer and Landon Cassill. The chance was made in order to ensure the open-wheel star is locked into the top-30 in owners' points during the events she is slated for so she will be guaranteed a spot in those races. Patrick's next race is scheduled to be at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in June.