Carfax 250 - Kelly Bires Notes

KELLY BIRES ANXIOUS TO GET BACK IN SEAT OF # 47 CLOROX FORD

The past two races taught Kelly Bires one thing: He’s a lot more comfortable behind the wheel of his No. 47 Clorox Ford than on the sidelines.

Bires will get back to work this Saturday for Wood Brothers/JTG Racing in the Carfax 250 at the Michigan International Speedway after sitting out consecutive Busch Series road course races. Trans Am champion Andy Lally worked in relief during those races, driving the car to a 10th-place finish last week at Watkins Glen International.

Bires watched from pit road, eagerly waiting for the schedule to shift back to ovals. And for good reason. The Clorox Ford Fusion has been at its best on racetracks like Michigan. While it’s the first time Bires, the defending American Speed Association national champion, has raced at the two-mile speedway, Bires said he’s learned enough in his first eight Busch Series starts – as well as seven races in the Craftsman Truck Series – to develop a comfort zone.

Qualifying for the Carfax 250 is Saturday at 11 a.m. on Speed. The race follows that afternoon at 3:30 on ESPN2.

WHAT THE TEAM HAS TO SAY
Kelly Bires, Driver of the No. 47 Armor All Ford Fusion:
“Stepping aside for two road course races was the best thing we could do as a team, but it wasn’t easy,” he said. “A racer wants to race. I didn’t have any experience on road courses, so it was the right thing to do. By the time we get back to the road courses next year, I will have taken a couple classes and done some testing on them.

“I’m really excited about Michigan. We’re taking our Kentucky car. We ran really well there, and we brought that car back and re-built it. We made a bunch of little changes that should make it even better. Andy gave this team a lot of momentum last week at Watkins Glen and it’s going to be a real challenge to keep that going. But it’s a challenge I want. I’d much rather have challenges than watch from the sidelines. The last two weeks weren’t easy. I realized I’m not a good spectator.”

Scott Zipadelli, Crew Chief of the No. 47 Armor All Ford Fusion:
“We took this car to Chicagoland, brought it back and re-built it for Kentucky,” he said. “The car was better at Kentucky, but we brought it back and made some more changes on it. We think we made it better again. That’s what racing’s all about – continual improvements.”

FAST & FUN FACTS:
-Kelly Bires was a two-time Wisconsin State wrestling champion in high school.
-The Carfax 250 will be Bires’ ninth career start in the NASCAR Busch Series.
-Bires won the 2006 American Speed Association national championship. He won eight races and was that league’s top rookie. He quickly was signed by Wood Brothers/JTG Racing to a driver development deal.

RACE INFORMATION:
What – Carfax 250 NASCAR Busch Series race
When – Saturday, Aug. 18, 3:30 p.m. ET
Where – Michigan International Speedway
Networks – ESPN2, Sirius Satellite Channel 128