Catchfence

SPARTA, Ky. (June 14, 2009) — Fierce determination was definitely in the air for Kelly Bires and the No. 33 Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) Copart team Saturday at Kentucky Speedway. After wrecking the primary car during qualifying, the team feverishly worked to prepare the back-up car for the race, started from the 42nd position and fought to a solid 10th-place finish.

“The No. 33 Copart Chevrolet was really strong,” said Bires. “Ernie (Cope, crew chief) and the guys did an incredible job preparing the car and getting it race ready. We had a great primary car, but they worked really hard and were able to get the back-up car just as good as the primary. I have to thank all the guys for their hard work, ECR (Earnhardt-Childress Racing) and their engine program, Copart and Kevin and DeLana for giving me this opportunity and putting me in great equipment. We had a really good car and the guys had strong, solid, fast pit stops all night long and we were able to capitalize for a 10th-place finish.”

Starting the race based on the current 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series Owner’s Point Standings after going to the back-up car, Bires and the Copart team started the Meijer 300 from the 42nd position. With one goal in mind, Bires quickly began his move to the front, sliding into the 26th position by lap four when the first caution of the night waved. Restarting the race on lap seven, Bires again was on a mission, taking over the 20th position by lap 15 and the 18th position by lap 20.

The second caution flag waved on lap 24 and Bires brought the No. 33 car down pit road for four fresh tires, fuel and an air-pressure adjustment to tighten the loose-handling car. The race restarted on lap 27 with Bires in the 19th spot. Starting his march again, Bires was scored in 13th on lap 29 and 11th by lap 31. Still fighting a loose car, Bires took over the 10th position on lap 49. Continuing to run fast laps, Bires radioed the team on lap 53 that the car was loose in the corners and tight from the center and off the corners. Under the caution on lap 69, the team again changed four tires, added fuel and made adjustments to help the handling of the car. With several cars being hit with penalties for exiting pit road too fast, a trend that would plague half the field throughout the night, Bires restated sixth on lap 74.

Running fast laps and picking cars off one-by-one, Bires overtook fourth position on lap 83. Maintaining his spot in the top 10, Bires made a scheduled pit stop under green-flag conditions on lap 137 for four tires, fuel and an air-pressure adjustment. Unfortunately, Bires was caught speeding on the exit of pit road and was forced to complete a drive through penalty. Once green-flag pit stops cycled through the field, Bires was one lap down in the 13th position.

Looking to get in position to earn the Aaron’s Lucky Dog award and get back on the lead lap, Cope made the decision on the lap 165 pit stop under caution to change only right side tires with an air-pressure adjustment and add fuel. Bires was able to gain one position and restarted 12th on lap 168. The caution flag waved again on lap 182 and Bires was in position to receive the Lucky Dog, returning to the lead lap. After pitting for left-side tires and adjustments, Bires restarted the race in the 10th position at the tail-end of the longest line on lap 188.

Unable to advance, Bires maintained his position and earned a solid top-10 finish. Defending race winner Joey Logano won the Meijer 300, followed by Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski and rookies Brendan Gaughan and Justin Allgaier.

June 13, 2009

Kentucky Speedway

Meijer 300

Race: 14 of 35

Driver: Kelly Bires

Started: 42nd

Finished: 10th

Owner’s Point Standings: 6th (-/+ 0 spots, 243 points out of 1st)

Race length: 200 laps/300 miles

Banking: 14-degrees in the turns

8-degrees on the frontstretch

4-degrees on the backstretch

Track layout: 1.5 miles
Shape: D-shaped Oval

Number of Race Cautions: 8 for 31 Laps

Red Flag: One Time: 8 minutes; 42 seconds

First Practice: 7th (31.395 seconds; 172.002 mph)

Final Practice: 16th (31.292 seconds; 172.568 mph)

Qualifying: Owner Points: Before taking the green flag for qualifying, the No. 33 car got loose in turn four and hit the wall causing severe damage to the right side of the car and forcing the team to the back-up car.

Next on the Nationwide Series Schedule:

Date: June 20, 2009
Track: The Milwaukee Mile
Event Name: NorthernTool.com 250
Driver: Ron Hornaday
Sponsor: Jimmy John’s
Broadcast Time: 7:30 p.m., ET on ESPN2 and MRN Radio

- Kevin Harvick, Inc., Press Release