Backstretch Motorsports

BIRES EAGER FOR EXCITING TALLADEGA CHALLENGE

Kelly Bires is brimming with excitement ahead of the Aaron’s 312 at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama this weekend.

The Clorox driver’s enthusiasm for the close and fast brand of racing created by a restrictor plate race on a superspeedway is clear when you look at the results Bires has earned in just a short space of time on superspeedways.

This will be the third start on a superspeedway in the NASCAR Nationwide Series for Bires, with 16th place at Daytona International Speedway last fall and a stunning 12th place in the 2008 season opener at Daytona in February.

Bires has one race under his belt at Talladega, in the ARCA Re/Max Series in 2006, where Bires finished in fourth place after qualifying in eighth in his first race contracted to the then Wood Brothers/JTG Racing organisation.

Bires currently sits 10th in the NASCAR Nationwide Series standings aboard the #47 Clorox Ford Fusion and after bad luck forced him out of last week’s race in Mexico with just one lap remaining due to clutch failure, the Wisconsin native is keen to get back to his consistent points scoring ways and score his second top 10 finish of the season.

Kelly Bires - #47 Clorox Ford Fusion

“This will be my first race at Talladega since 2006 when I ran in an ARCA car there and finished fourth,” said Bires.

“I had a really good day in that race, had a car capable of winning and it came in my first race as a contracted driver for Wood Brothers/JTG Racing.

“I’ve been looking forward to going back to Talladega ever since that first run there. It’s really smooth and fast and it’s fun to run wide open around that place.

“It’s important to still be around when it gets really exciting, with around 20 or so laps to go. That’s when the racing gets almost ‘out of control’ it’s so spectacular. Everyone sets it up for that run to the flag.

“You get to the final stages and then a switch gets flicked and you go. The superspeedway races are always exciting at the finish.

“The only downside of a place like Talladega, or Daytona for that matter, is that if someone makes a mistake or gets in trouble in front of you, there is nothing you can do. The cars are so fast and so close there is no where to go a lot of the time when there’s a wreck, so there’s a bit of luck involved just getting to the finish.

“The aim is to be smart about it and set up for the finish, then with 20 to go it’s about having the car right and being able to get into the right line in the draft at the end.”

2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series Standings - After Race 9 of 35
1. Clint Bowyer 1339
2. Car Edwards 1330
3. Kyle Busch 1273
4. David Reutimann 1192
5. David Ragan 1165
6. Brad Keselowski 1153
7. Mike Bliss 1136
8. Jason Leffler 1062
9. Mike Wallace 1036
10. Kelly Bires 1008

2008 NNS Prizemoney after 9 races:
Kelly Bires: US$298,002

RACE SCHEDULE
Local Alabama (US Central) Times
Practice 1
Thursday 24 April 2008
3:00pm – 4:45pm

Final Practice
Friday 18 April 2008
5:00pm – 6:00pm

Qualifying
Friday 25 April 2008
4:05pm

Race – 117 laps
Saturday 26 April 2008
2:00pm US Central
3:00pm US Eastern