Sponsorship-strapped JRM replaces Bires with McMurray
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (AP)—Kelly Bires was released Tuesday by sponsorship-strapped JR Motorsports, which is finding it difficult to develop young drivers without corporate backing.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. created the team as an avenue to develop drivers in NASCAR’s second-tier Nationwide Series level. But he and his family are running much of this season out of pocket because sponsorship has been difficult to land.
Bires drove JRM’s flagship No. 88, which is only partially funded this year. Danica Patrick drives the No. 5 on a part-time basis with sponsorship from GoDaddy.com, but JRM is trying to run that car the entire season.
“We are extremely appreciative of Kelly Bires and wish him the best,” said Kelley Earnhardt, co-owner of JRM and Earnhardt’s sister.
“Internally, it was evident the chemistry that is imperative for us to succeed in this highly competitive industry was simply not there. That is the fault of no one person. We owe it to our fans and sponsors to make necessary adjustments in an effort to put our best product on the track, and we’ll continue evaluating our progress until we are confident that our full potential is being reached.”
Bires did not run the season-opening event at Daytona because a sponsor commitment required Earnhardt to drive that race. He did pilot the No. 88 in the previous five events, finishing a season-best seventh at California in his only top 10 this year.
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