Bires Recovers After Pit Lane Incident In Phoenix

Kelly Bires has recorded yet another top 20 finish despite being delayed by a controversial pit lane incident in the Bashas Supermarkets 200 at Phoenix International Raceway in Arizona today.

Bires again showed strong pace in the #47 Clorox Ford Fusion and after qualifying 23rd, was on a steady charge up the order.

At the second pit stop Bires was spun by the #64 car of David Stremme on pit road, dropping Bires out of a top 15 position back down to the bottom of the order.

From there Bires put in a commendable drive to salvage a solid finish and climb back up the order to finish 19th place, continuing a streak of top 20 finishes in all but one race this season.

Kyle Busch won today’s Bashas Supermarkets 200 ahead of Carl Edwards and Denny Hamlin.

Next weekend will see Bires make his road course debut in the Corona Mexico 200 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City.

Kelly Bires - #47 Clorox Ford Fusion

“We had a really good car today and I think we were capable of challenging for a top 10 position,” said Bires.

“It was just unfortunate what happened on pit road during our second stop because that ruined our day.

“I’m not sure what the 64 car was thinking when he spun us out on pit road. I think I was around 13th at the time and we were capable of running a lot better.

“It took us out of the battle up front and it lost me about 20 spots, but at least we can say we had a good Clorox car today.

“It was a good recovery, but it’s just unfortunate because we worked so hard to get the car as good as it was.

“When we rolled it off the truck we really were not that strong but we worked at it and had a great car in the race. The team did a great job.”

RESULTS: Bashas Supermarkets 200 at Phoenix International Raceway
Race 8 in the 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series
1. #18 Kyle Busch 202 laps
2. #60 Carl Edwards
3. #20 Denny Hamlin
4. #33 Kevin Harvick
5. #6 David Ragan
6. #1 Mike Bliss
7. #21 Stephen Leicht
8. #2 Clint Bowyer
9. #99 David Reutimann
10. #64 David Stremme
19. #47 Kelly Bires 201 laps

RESULTS: Qualifying
1. #18 Kyle Busch 27.153
2. #88 Brad Keselowski 27.323
3. #60 Carl Edwards 27.358
4. #29 Jeff Burton 27.360
5. #33 Kevin Harvick 27.396
6. #20 Denny Hamlin 27.410
7. #11 Jason Keller 27.483
8. #27 Brad Coleman 27.490
9. #16 Jamie McMurray 27.502
10. #2 Clint Bowyer 27.506
23. #47 Kelly Bires 27.807

2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series Standings - After Race 8 of 35
1. Clint Bowyer 1189
2. Car Edwards 1165
3. Kyle Busch 1083
4. David Ragan 1068
5. David Reutimann 1065
6. Brad Keselowski 1011
7. Mike Bliss 998
8. Kevin Harvick 977
9. Jason Leffler 962
10. Kelly Bires 926