Bires Makes Progress In Phoenix Practice
Kelly Bires has things moving in the right direction after practice for the Bashas Supermarkets 200 at Phoenix International Raceway in Phoenix, Arizona today.
Bires was 22nd fastest in final practice at the 1.0-mile speedway after finishing opening practice in 27th fastest earlier in the day in the #47 Clorox Ford Fusion.
The 23-year-old is looking to continue a run of strong form this weekend in Phoenix. Bires has only finished outside of the top 20 on one occasion from seven races so far this season.
Currently sitting ninth in the 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series standings, Bires and JTG Racing are looking forward to the challenge of tomorrow’s race at the tough Phoenix venue.
Kelly Bires - #47 Clorox Ford Fusion
“We got a feel for things today and have a solid direction for tomorrow,” said Bires.
“We qualify in the middle of the day, but the race is going to run as the sun goes down, so it’s those conditions that you want your car to suit.
“Phoenix is a track that is quite tricky and definitely changes as the sun goes away, so we had that firmly in our minds as we ran today.
“We will work on the car more and get more out of it. We are all still feeling really good about where this team is at and I think we are all excited for tomorrow.”
RESULTS: Final Practice
1. #20 Denny Hamlin 27.455
2. #1 Mike Bliss 27.564
3. #18 Kyle Busch 27.599
4. #66 Steve Wallace 27.622
5. #59 Marcos Ambrose 27.693
6. #99 David Reutimann 27.722
7. #27 Brad Coleman 27.736
8. #2 Clint Bowyer 27.819
9. #60 Carl Edwards 27.830
10. #29 Jeff Burton 27.835
22. #47 Kelly Bires 28.197
RESULTS: Practice 1
1. #64 David Stremme 27.570
2. #40 Dario Franchitti 27.582
3. #20 Denny Hamlin 27.804
4. #88 Brad Keselowski 27.819
5. #29 Jeff Burton 27.823
6. #25 Bobby Hamilton Jr 27.827
7. #16 Jamie McMurray 27.839
8. #33 Kevin Harvick 27.848
9. #2 Clint Bowyer 27.855
10. #6 David Ragan 27.918
27. #47 Kelly Bires 28.424
2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series Standings - After Race 7 of 35
1. Clint Bowyer 1047
2. Carl Edwards 990
3. David Reutimann 927
4. David Ragan 913
5. Kyle Busch 888
6. Brad Keselowski 879
7. Mike Bliss 848
8. Jason Leffler 841
9. Kelly Bires 820
10. Kevin Harvick 817
2008 NNS Prizemoney after 7 races:
Kelly Bires: US$227,771
RACE SCHEDULE
Local Arizona (US Mountain) Times
Qualifying
Friday 11 April 2008
2:05pm
Race – 200 laps
Friday 11 April 2008
6:45pm US Mountain
9:45pm US Eastern
UNITED STATES TV SCHEDULE
Friday 11 April 2008
ESPN2
9:30pm US Eastern
ABOUT PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Track Length: 1.0 mile (1.61km)
Race Distance: 200 laps – 200 miles (321.87km)
Degree of Banking in Turns 1 and 2: 11 degrees
Degree of Banking in Turns 3 and 4: 9 degrees
Degree of Banking on Front Straight: 3 degrees
Degree of Banking in Back Straight: 9 degrees
NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES RECORD BOOK
Defending Nationwide Race Champion: Clint Bowyer
Defending Nationwide Polesitter: Kyle Busch
Marcos Ambrose 2007 Fall Race Finish: 22nd
Marcos Ambrose 2007 Qualifying: 26th
|
