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 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 Chevrolet’s that Earnhardt Jr. co-owns with Rick Hendrick. Plans for the organization’s No. 5 team also remain in the works, possibly giving Bires
“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.” Scene Daily
The 24-year-old, a native of Mauston, Wis., has made 66 starts in Nationwide with three top-five and 11 top-10 finishes with a variety of teams. He also has made eight starts in the NASCAR Truck series. ThatsRacin.com
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