Catchfence

MILLINGTON, Tenn. (October 25, 2009) — Heading to the home of the Blues, Kelly Bires and the No. 33 Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) Copart team had high expectations Saturday at Memphis Motorsports Park as Bires made his final start of the season for KHI. Starting the race from the 32nd position, Bires worked his way as high as sixth before a mid-race accident relegated the team to a 25th-place finish.

“We had a top-10 car, but fought loose conditions early on and then got caught up in an accident that ruined our shot at a solid finish,” said Bires following the race. “I have to thank the guys and Ernie (Cope) for a great job this weekend and Kevin and DeLana (Harvick) for giving me the opportunity to drive the No. 33 car three times this season. It has been a lot of fun and definitely a learning experience for me that will help me as I move on to my next opportunity with JR Motorsports next season.”

With the race underway, Bires patiently began picking his way through the field, moving from the 32nd starting position to 19th by lap seven. Continuing to move forward, Bires was scored in the 15th spot when the team made their first scheduled stop of the race on lap 38 under caution. Fighting a loose-handling car, crew chief Ernie Cope made the call for four tires, fuel, an air-pressure and a track-bar adjustment to help with the handling. With teams on varying strategies, Bires restarted the race on lap 42 in the 24th position.

Looking to move back toward the front, Bires took over the 18th position on lap 56, but was stalled by a loose-handling car. Deciding to stay out under caution on lap 61, Bires was able to move into the sixth position on the lap 66 restart as teams again utilized various strategies. Unfortunately, the loose condition proved to be too much and caused the No. 33 car to begin to slide back through the field.

On lap 77 the caution flag again waved and the team brought Bires back down pit road for another scheduled stop from the 19th spot. Aiming to improve the handling of the car, the team changed four tires, added fuel, made an air-pressure adjustment and made a rubber adjustment on both rear tires. Bires restarted the race on lap 83 in the 22nd position.

Proving to be the right changes, Bires again focused on the front, running lap times as fast as the leaders. By lap 106, Bires moved into the top 10 and when the caution flag waved again on lap 124, he was running eighth. The team made another stop for four fresh Goodyear tires with an air-pressure adjustment and fuel. The race restarted on lap 129 with the No. 33 Copart Chevrolet in the ninth position.

Continuing to log laps, Bires was in the 11th position when the team’s day took a turn. Racing for position, the No. 12 car made contact with Bires on the backstretch on lap 174. The contact caused Bires to spin out, causing damage to the front end of the car. Making several stops on pit road, the team made repairs to the car and eventually took the car to the garage for more repairs. Nursing a damaged car, Bires was able to return to the race and following a green-white-checkered finish, claimed the 25th position, 19 laps down from the leaders.

Brad Keselowski won his fourth race of the season, followed by Kyle Busch, Jason Leffler, Mike Bliss and Brendan Gaughan.

- Kevin Harvick Inc. Press Release