Clorox Team Pulls Together During Daytona Practice Sessions

14 February 2008

With just two days remaining and both practice sessions complete in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, the focus for Kelly Bires and the No. 47 Clorox team  shifts to qualifying tomorrow for the Camping World 300 at Daytona International Speedway.

During Wednesday's practice session, Kelly Bires took to the 2.5-mile superspeedway, but quickly took note that the car didn't quite feel right.

Fortunately for the team, Kelly's diagnosis was correct and they used the remainder of the practice session fixing a ripped inner axle seal on the right rear of the car.  Kelly's time over the six practice laps was good enough for 30th overall.

On Thursday during the second and final practice session prior to qualifying, Bires and the No. 47 Clorox team picked it up, turning a fast lap of 183 .914 miles per hour - good enough for 25th overall.  However, the team was given a slight scare as the session was coming to a close.  The No. 70 car of Mark Green hit the apron and shot up the track and into the left front fender of the No. 47 Clorox Ford.  Luckily, the damage was minimal and the team was able to make minor repairs and return to the track.

Bires ran very competitively in the draft and likes the way the No. 47 Clorox Ford is handling for Saturday's Main Event.  Qualifying will be a bit of a concern as the team did not get to make a final run completely taped up for conditions.  But the ever-optimistic Bires thinks everything will be just fine.

WHAT THE TEAM HAS TO SAY:

Kelly Bires, Driver of the No. 47 Clorox Ford: "Overall, I think we have a pretty good car.  It's a pretty close balance to be where we need to race.  We never did a qualifying run, so I don't know where we'll qualify, but we hope for the best.  I'm not sure how many  laps we ran today, but quite a few in the draft.  We're working on getting it comfortable to run in the draft.  But Saturday it's going to be really warm.  It has a tendency when it's really warm; it gets slick in the corner and tight off the corner.  I think it's good. We have a good race car, there a few minor details that we need to work on and try to get it fixed up."

ON THE ACCIDENT IN FINAL PRACTICE: "I was on the outside of the 70 going into the corner.  Either the 70 got pushed from behind or he ran into the apron or whatever, he shot up the track and so I shot up with him and he slammed into my front fender and then he spun out and I tried to avoid him and the other cars on track.  We've got the car fixed up and we should be good."

PUTTING THE FOCUS ON HANDLING: "The whole time down here and the three day test, we never really worked on any qualifying.  Here anymore it's a handling race track, so that's what you need to do.  If your 40th in qualifying and you're handling good, you'll be fine in the race.  That's what it comes down to."

ON THE 2008 OUTLOOK: "I'm really happy to get the year going and really happy to have the whole and season knowing what I'm going doing to do.  I'm hoping to have a really good year for Clorox because they deserve one and they've been great to me. I want to run in the top 10 every week, that's what we want."

Scott Zipadelli, Crew Chief of the No. 47 Clorox Ford: "Ah, we've had a couple of hiccups here in both sessions, but it wasn't anything this group of guys can't overcome.  The car is fast in the dr aft=97and stable=97and that's what Kelly wants.  We're all here to make sure he's comfortable in this race car.  When he's comfortable, he's fast and when he's fast, he brings home great finishes.  I think Saturday will be fine=85I'm really looking forward to it."

FAST & FUN FACTS:
-Kelly Bires will qualify the No. 47 Clorox Ford for the Camping World 300  at Daytona International Speedway on Friday, February 15th at 3:10 p.m. EST on the ESPN 2 Network.

-The No. 47 Clorox team is using Chassis No. 20 as their primary Daytona  car. 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.