Matching the excitement of a second season in the No. 47 Clorox Ford for second-year NASCAR Nationwide Series driver, Kelly Bires, is a lot like what a small child must feel on Christmas Eve. The 23-year old graduate of Wisconsin’s legendary asphalt circuits is more than ready to take on the 2.5-mile high banks of the Daytona International Speedway in his second year with JTG Racing.

Bires, teamed up with second-year crew chief Scott Zipadelli, is ready to carve out his own destiny in a year where they will finally be prepared from the outset to face the rigors of the full 35-race NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule. Despite being with the team for the last half of the 2007 season, Bires only recently completed his first testing sessions—at Daytona and Las Vegas. And both went well enough to light the fire of the ultra-competitive Kelly Bires.

At the Daytona test, the team posted a top-five speed in the second day drafting session and got their primary car handling well enough to run wide open during an entire fuel run. The Las Vegas test went even better, as Bires car got faster in all four of the sessions in the two-day outing.

As Bires returns for his second year of driving for JTG Racing with the pairing of crew chief Scott Zipadelli, both feel like this could be a year to remember for the No. 47 Clorox Ford. Many changes were instituted in the processes and personnel at JTG Racing over the past six months and the dividends are just starting to show.

Next up? Results.

WHAT THE TEAM HAS TO SAY:
Kelly Bires, Driver of the No. 47 Clorox Ford:
“I’ve got a really good feeling about things now. Last year was a challenge for Scott and me because we kind of got thrown into the mix together and had to make things happen in a hurry. Now we’re getting a chance to approach a season the right way, both patient and prepared. We’ve got a standard package in a lot of our fleet right now that took a lot of work to get it right. About the only thing we’re lacking right now is the proof of all the hard work we’ve undertaken. Even though I know that will come shortly, it won’t be fast enough for me, knowing what this team is capable of."

Scott Zipadelli, Crew Chief of the No. 47 Clorox Ford:
“I’m really looking forward to this season with Kelly. We really enjoy a great relationship, both as competitors and friends. We’re both ready to grow this deal together and have as much success as possible. And by that I mean top-10 finishes every week. We’ve got the cars set up the way Kelly likes to drive and we’re just waiting to capitalize right now.”

Jodi Geschickter, Owner of the No. 47 Clorox Ford:
“I’m am proud of both Kelly and Scott and excited to see how the year will turn out. I’ve been a first hand witness to a lot of the changes that have been put in place over the past six months—all with the goal in mind to elevate this Clorox Racing program to its fullest potential.”

FAST & FUN FACTS:
-Kelly Bires will drive the No. 47 Clorox Ford for JTG Racing in the Camping World 300 at Daytona International Speedway. Scott Zipadelli returns as the role of crew chief.
-The No. 47 Clorox team will be taking Chassis No. 20 as their primary Daytona car, with Chassis No. 14 as a backup.
-Chassis 20 qualified third one year ago at this same event.
-Kelly Bires has two starts at the Daytona International Speedway, one in the Craftsman Truck Series and one in the Nationwide Series, with a best finish of 16th in July of 2007.