JR. Motorsports Nation

2/9/10

JR MOTORSPORTS TEAM PREVIEW
No. 88 Hellmann's Chevrolet/No. 7 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet

EVENT - Drive4COPD 300 (120 laps / 300 miles)
TRACK - Daytona International Speedway (2.5-mile tri-oval)
DATE - Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010
TV / RADIO - ESPN2 (coverage begins at 12:00 p.m. EST) / MRN (broadcast begins at 12:45 p.m. EST)

Dale Earnhardt Jr.
No. 88 Hellmann's Chevrolet

What are you anticipating having Danica Patrick as your JRM teammate this weekend?
"A lot of attention - for her, not me. This might be the first time we don't have to weave through cameras and media reporters when walking to our car, because they'll be in Danica's garage. She handles it well, and we'll try to make sure it's not a distraction this weekend. We are there to do a job. I'm driving the Hellmann's Chevy and she's in the Go Daddy Chevy, and we'd like both to have strong runs this weekend. It's a big race for our sponsors, and it's a big race for our sport. A lot of people will be paying attention to this race this Saturday."

You finished 7th at Daytona in the Hellmann's Chevrolet last year, what does the JRM team need to do to get its first Daytona victory this weekend?
"It's a combination of things, but we've got to handle well to put ourselves in the right place at the right time. That's the key. If we're not handling, the rest of the chips don't fall into place. But I can tell you this - there's nobody I'd rather have set up my car at Daytona than (crew chief) Tony Eury Sr. He's the best there is."

It's been five years since you raced with "Pops" Eury as your crew chief in the NNS. Is this going to be like a throw-back race to the old days for you?
"Hell yeah, I'm all about throwback, especially when it comes to racing with Pops because we won so many races. It will be fun driving his car and hearing his voice on the radio. He's one of the best crew chiefs in the garage, and like I said, there's nobody better at Daytona than Pops and Tony Jr. They know what it takes to get around that place. This is going to be fun."

Danica Patrick
No. 7 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet

What's was the largest contributing factor in your decision to run the Nationwide Series race at Daytona?
"The ARCA race was a great learning experience. Obviously it's not the same as a Nationwide race, but I feel I have a much better understanding of what to expect out there on the racetrack and in the draft with the GoDaddy.com car. That had a lot to do with my decision. The amount of uncertainty surrounding the race had dwindled. After reviewing the options with my team, we decided it was the right decision to race this weekend. I feel confident in our choice."

Dale Jr. is going to be your JRM teammate this weekend, what are your thoughts on racing against your boss?
"I have to think of him as a fellow driver and teammate, not my boss. I'm really looking forward to racing with him this Saturday. Hopefully we'll be in a position to work together at some point, because I know he's a master at this track. I could learn a lot from him. It's going to be a great experience at a different racing level, and I hope it will be as much fun as last week's race."

After surviving 80 laps in the ARCA race, what did you learn from that event which will carry over to Saturday's race?
"What didn't I learn? You can talk about the race all you want and prepare as much as you can, but until you are really in the car during a race, you'll never know. That is the true test. Our GoDaddy.com team went through a lot that race. On Saturday I hope I'm able to walk away from the race knowing that I didn't leave anything on the track."

Do you have any goals for the NNS race, and what has to happen to make Saturday a good day for Danica Patrick?
"I want to do this the right way. The biggest thing is to get the car comfortable for me in practice. Our GoDaddy.com team spent a lot of time in practice for last week's race and I think it paid off in the long run. Again, I just want to run a solid race. I want tolog laps and be part of the action. I understand the draft a bit better than before, so I want the chance to work with some of the other drivers."
DAYTONA NOTEBOOK:

JRM DREAM TEAM - Two of the biggest names in racing will be paired up as JR Motorsports teammates when Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Danica Patrick take to the high banks of Daytona this weekend in the NASCAR Nationwide Series opener. Earnhardt Jr. will drive the No. 88 Hellmann's Chevrolet while Danica Patrick pilots the No. 7 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet in her NASCAR debut.

STARTING WITH A BANG - Patrick made her stock-car debut with much success last week in the Lucas Oil Slick 200 ARCA race. After a 12th-place start, the Roscoe, Ill. native maintained her poise during a spinout with 30 laps do go, and rallied to a sixth-place finish.

FIVE-YEAR REUNION - Tony Eury Sr. will be serving as Earnhardt Jr.'s crew chief for the first time in five years this weekend. The last time "Pops" was atop the pit box for Earnhardt Jr. in the Nationwide Series, it was under the Dale Earnhardt, Inc. banner for both Daytona events in 2005. The pair's best finish was third that year. Additionally, "Pops" served as Earnhardt Jr.'s crew chief when he clinched back-to-back Nationwide Series Championships in 1998 and 1999.

AT DAYTONA - In 17 starts at Daytona, Earnhardt Jr. has five wins, eight top-five and 10 top-10 finishes. He has led 481 laps and earned an average finish of 12.2.

A GUARANTEED SPOT -Patrick will be guaranteed a spot in the first three events of the NNS 2010 season based off JRM's acquisition of points from CJM Racing's No. 11 team, which finished 15th in the 2009 Nationwide Series owners point standings.

DANICA'S 2010 NNS SCHEDULE - Patrick will compete in 13 Nationwide Series races in 2010, including the first three events of the year at Daytona, California and Las Vegas. The remainder of her schedule includes races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (June 26), Chicagoland Speedway (July 9), Michigan International Speedway (Aug. 14), Dover International Speedway (Sept. 25), Auto Club Speedway (Oct. 9), Charlotte Motor Speedway (Oct. 15), Gateway International Raceway (Oct. 23), Texas Motor Speedway (Nov. 6), Phoenix International Raceway (Nov. 13), and Homestead-Miami Speedway (Nov. 20).

NEW, IMPROVED AND FREE JR NATION FAN CLUB - Now race fans can be part of all the JR Motorsports action with a free subscription to The JR Nation Crew Fan Club - the official fan club of Dale Earnhardt Jr. and JR Motorsports. The club has just launched a new website complete with chat rooms, forums and blogs from your favorite JRM drivers. Join today for your chance to win a custom-designed race helmet provided by Nationwide Insurance and signed by Dale Jr., Kelly Bires and Danica Patrick.

PaddockTalk Perspective

JR Motorsports began in a shed on the property of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. in 1998 with just one employee, as the marketing division of Dale Earnhardt, Jr.'s race team. The original intent of the business was to help Earnhardt, Jr. sell t-shirts and negotiate sponsorship deals.

It wasn't until 2002 that Earnhardt, Jr. turned the business into a race team. That's when T. J. Majors drove the first race, in the street stock division, at Concord Motorsports Park, in North Carolina.

The first win for the team came at Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, VA, in 2004.

Today the team operates out of a 66,000-square-foot (6,100 m2) state of the art race shop near Mooresville, North Carolina. JR Motorsports' primary series is the NASCAR Nationwide Series, where they originally fielded the #88 for several drivers. Upon Earnhardt, Jr.'s signing with Hendrick Motorsports the Hendrick and JR Nationwide Series teams were merged and in addition to the #88 Chevrolet currently sponsored by GoDaddy.com and Delphi with Brad Keselowski behind the wheel, JR Motorsports fields the #5 Unilever/GoDaddy.com Chevrolet for several drivers, the #48 Lowe's Chevrolet for Jimmie Johnson, the #80 Chevrolet for Tony Stewart, and the #83 for Earnhardt, Jr.

Hendrick Motorsports:

The #5 car is inherited from the Hendrick Motorsports' Busch Series stable, competing in the series since 1984. Shortly after Dale Earnhardt, Jr. signed with Hendrick Motorsports in the Sprint Cup Series, Hendrick Motorsports announced that it would merge its operations with the JR stable to field a two-car team with the #5 and the #88, starting in 2008, using Hendrick engines and chassies.

The #5 is scheduled to be driven by seven drivers in 2008 -- Jimmie Johnson, Earnhardt, Jr., Martin Truex, Jr., Mark Martin and Landon Cassill as well as road course specialists, Ron Fellows and Adrian Fernandez..
The #5 will include sponsorship from Lowe's, National Guard, Delphi, and Godaddy.com.

#5 Car History:
The #5 car won twice in 2008, with Mark Martin at Las Vegas and Ron Fellows in Montreal, the first NASCAR race run in wet conditions. The 5 car will run 21 races with Sponsorship from Fastenal, Go Daddy, Unilever, Degree, and Delphi. Dale Jr will drive 7 races, 2 for Go Daddy.com, 2 for Fastenal, 1 for Degree and 2 for Unilever( Daytona-Hellimans, Klondike at Lowes on may 23. Mark Martin will drive at Richmond May 1st with sponsorship from Lipton Ice Tea, Tony Stewart will drive at Lowes on October 16 with Delphi Sponsorship, Scott Wimmer will drive 6 races with Fastenal Sponsorship, the other 6 races with Fastenal sponsorship will be named at a later date.

#48 Car History:
Car #48 was driven by Jimmie Johnson at Watkin Glens in the 2008 race with Lowe's as the sponsor, driving it home 29.

#83 Car History:
Car #83 was fielded by JR Motorsports with driver and owner Dale Earnhardt, Jr. behind the wheel at Lowe's Motor Speedway on May 24, 2008. Earnhardt, Jr. drove the car home a 4th place finish.

#88 Car History:

The #No. 88 began the 2006 season driven by Mark McFarland, but he was replaced by Shane Huffman, with Martin Truex, Jr. and Robby Gordon filling-in for certain races. On Tuesday July 3, 2007 Dale Earnhardt Jr. released Shane Huffman from driving the #88 Navy Chevy for JR Motorsports. Earnhardt, Jr. drove the #88 on July 6, 2007 in the Busch Series race at Daytona International Speedway. Brad Keselowski will replace Shane Huffman for three races, with "Road Course Specialist" and SCCA driver Andy Pilgrim to be in the car for the race in Montreal, and Watkins Glen.Brad Keselowski finished the season.Keselowski signed a two year contract with JR Motorsports with the Navy returning as sponsor in 2008. Brad won his first race at Nashville Superspeedway on June 7, 2008. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. will have to find a new sponsor for the #88 in 2009 as the Navy announced it would not be returning after the conclusion of the 2008 season. GoDaddy.com and Delphi will sponsor the #88 for a total of 24 races in 2009,Unilever will be sponsoring 11 races on the #88 Car. Degree will be sponsoring the car for 4 races in 2009.

Tony Eury Sr.

Dale Jr has looked to his past for help running the company. In June 2007 Tony Eury was hired away from Dale Earnhardt, Inc to become Director of Competittion at JR Motorsports.

Eury was Junior's crew chief beginning when Junior first started in the Busch series. Together the 2 won 2 Busch championships before moving on to NASCAR's Cup series.

"Tony Sr. brings wins, championships, and an immeasurable amount of knowledge to JR Motorsports," Earnhardt Jr. said. "He also brings a sense of trust that you only have in family. This company needs his expertise, and I'm glad he sees the potential at JR Motorsports to want to work here. I hope I can provide him the same amount of success here that he has achieved over the years, and I hope he enjoys working here as much as I know he enjoyed working at DEI."

Eury had been a full time employee of DEI since 1987, and had worked with Dale Earnhardt both as a part-time employee and unpaid helper since 1976.

Before joining up with Dale Jr, Eury had been a crew chief for svveral Busch series drivers at DEI including Neil Bonnett, Michael Waltrip, Steve Park, and Dale Earnhardt.

"I remember Dale coming up to me and asking if I could make a driver out of Dale Jr.," Eury said. "My remark to him was I don't know why we can't. Why would you want to spend money on someone else's kid when you can spend money on your own kid?"

Eury now oversees competition and technical support at JR Motorsports, working closely with crew chiefs and team engineers from all racing divisions.

Sprint Cup Series and Future of JR Motorsports:

During a press conference at Lowe's Motor Speedway on May 16, 2008, Dale Earnhardt Jr. stated that once the Nationwide Series starts using the Car of Tomorrow chassis, which is set for an August, 2009 debut at the intermediate tracks, his Nationwide teams possibly will leave the Nationwide Series, due to the costs of switching cars. When asked if he will move JR Motorsports to the Sprint Cup Series, Earnhardt Jr. said that due to the Nationwide Series and Sprint Cup Series almost having the same expensive costs, he might move the team to the Sprint Cup Series as early as 2009 "if the right opportunity comes along with the right sponsorship and driver.

Other racing series;

JR Motorsports fields the No. 88 Racing Clubs of America Chevrolet Monte Carlo Late model driven by Curtis Truex. The No.72 Champion Spark Plug Chevrolet driven by Richard Boswell. The 06 Champion Spark Plug Chevy driven by Davin Scites. The No. 50 Southern Pipeing Chevy driven by Jamey Cadill. And the No.73 R and B Chevy driven by Owen Kelly.

9/15/09

JR Motorsports Signs Bires To Two-Year Deal Starting in 2010
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Sept. 15, 2009) - Rising talent Kelly Bires has signed to drive a full-time NASCAR Nationwide Series entry for JR Motorsports in 2010-11, general manager Kelley Earnhardt announced today.

A native of Mauston, Wis., Bires has frequented the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series since 2006. In 66 career Nationwide Series starts, Bires has earned three top-five and 11 top-10 finishes. He tallied two of his top-fives this season with a career-best finish of fourth at Nashville Superspeedway on April 11 for Kevin Harvick Inc. and fifth at Iowa Speedway on Aug. 1 for Braun Racing.

"Kelly is a talented young driver, and we want to give him the opportunity to showcase that talent," said Dale Earnhardt Jr., owner of JR Motorsports. "Our whole premise at JR Motorsports from the beginning has been to take up-and-coming drivers, give them the chance to drive good equipment, and help them reach the next level. Kelly has a lot of promise. I noticed his potential earlier this year, and we are glad to have him at JR Motorsports."

JR Motorsports fields the Nos. 88 and 5 teams in the Nationwide Series. It has not been determined which of the two Bires will drive in 2010, as JR Motorsports is still in the process of securing sponsorship for next season.

"I can't thank Dale Jr. and Kelley enough for this opportunity," Bires said. "JR Motorsports is a quality organization. They win races, and they contend for championships. As a driver, that's all you can ever ask for. They have a tremendous infrastructure of support with Rick Hendrick and Tony Eury Sr. These are people who know how to win races, know how to win championships, and know what it takes to be successful."

Bires got his NASCAR start in 2006 in a Camping World Truck Series entry for Wood Brothers/JTG Racing (now JTG-Daugherty Racing). He was scheduled to tackle a partial truck schedule in 2007 but was promoted to the team's Nationwide Series entry after just seven races. In 2008 - his first full-time Nationwide Series attempt - Bires finished 13th in the point standings with six top-10s.

Like many of today's racers, Bires started early. By the age of 17, he had already secured two regional karting championships and two national titles. He entered the Allison Legacy Car Series at the age of 15. In his first season, he captured Rookie of the Year honors. In his second season, he was crowned series champion. Bires made the move to late models in 2002, and in his first season in the ASA Late Model Series, he earned eight wins, four poles, and 15 top-fives.

About Kelly Bires:

Kelly Bires (born August 25, 1984 in Mauston, Wisconsin) is a NASCAR race car driver. He raced the #47 Clorox Ford Fusion for JTG Daugherty Racing in the Nationwide Series, and was a member of their driver development program. He became a free agent in 2009 and will compete in some races with Braun Racing. Bires unsuccessfully attempted the 2009 Daytona 500 with Black Jack Racing. Bires also got a ride with Kevin Harvick Incorporated to drive at Nashville Tennessee. He finished 4th place, his second top 5 finish in the Nationwide Series.

Bires began karting at Sugar River Raceway in Brodhead, Wisconsin at age 9. He began competing in national karting events at age 12. He won several regional titles and two national championships.

He became the Great Lakes Allison Legacy Series Rookie of the Year in 2000, and followed up the championship by winning the series in 2001. He next moved up to the Super Late Model racecars at Dells Motor Speedway. He finished fifth in points and was the 2002 Rookie of the Year. He finished second in championship points in 2003. Bires made his first start in ARCA in May 2004. He qualified fourth and finished eighth at Lowe's Motor Speedway. He was the 2006 American Speed Association Late Model Series champion.

In 2007:
He was to the #21 Wood Brothers Racing truck in 19 races, handing over driving duties for the other six races to veteran Mark Martin. He had a tenth place finish at Atlanta. After the departure of Jon Wood due to illness, he left the Truck Series started racing for Tad Geschickter beginning at Nashville Superspeedway. His best Busch Series start was 26th and best finish was 7th in the Meijer 300 presented by Oreo at Kentucky Speedway. He was named the permanent driver of the #47

In 2008:
He was named the permanent driver of the #47 and had six top-ten finishes en route to a 13th place points finish. He lost his job at the end of the season due to a lack of sponsorship.

In 2009:

The Big Announcement:

9/15/09

JR Motorsports Signs Bires To Two-Year Deal Starting in 2010
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Sept. 15, 2009) - Rising talent Kelly Bires has signed to drive a full-time NASCAR Nationwide Series entry for JR Motorsports in 2010-11, general manager Kelley Earnhardt announced today.

A native of Mauston, Wis., Bires has frequented the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series since 2006. In 66 career Nationwide Series starts, Bires has earned three top-five and 11 top-10 finishes. He tallied two of his top-fives this season with a career-best finish of fourth at Nashville Superspeedway on April 11 for Kevin Harvick Inc. and fifth at Iowa Speedway on Aug. 1 for Braun Racing.

"Kelly is a talented young driver, and we want to give him the opportunity to showcase that talent," said Dale Earnhardt Jr., owner of JR Motorsports. "Our whole premise at JR Motorsports from the beginning has been to take up-and-coming drivers, give them the chance to drive good equipment, and help them reach the next level. Kelly has a lot of promise. I noticed his potential earlier this year, and we are glad to have him at JR Motorsports."

JR Motorsports fields the Nos. 88 and 5 teams in the Nationwide Series. It has not been determined which of the two Bires will drive in 2010, as JR Motorsports is still in the process of securing sponsorship for next season.

"I can't thank Dale Jr. and Kelley enough for this opportunity," Bires said. "JR Motorsports is a quality organization. They win races, and they contend for championships. As a driver, that's all you can ever ask for. They have a tremendous infrastructure of support with Rick Hendrick and Tony Eury Sr. These are people who know how to win races, know how to win championships, and know what it takes to be successful."

Bires got his NASCAR start in 2006 in a Camping World Truck Series entry for Wood Brothers/JTG Racing (now JTG-Daugherty Racing). He was scheduled to tackle a partial truck schedule in 2007 but was promoted to the team's Nationwide Series entry after just seven races. In 2008 - his first full-time Nationwide Series attempt - Bires finished 13th in the point standings with six top-10s.

Like many of today's racers, Bires started early. By the age of 17, he had already secured two regional karting championships and two national titles. He entered the Allison Legacy Car Series at the age of 15. In his first season, he captured Rookie of the Year honors. In his second season, he was crowned series champion. Bires made the move to late models in 2002, and in his first season in the ASA Late Model Series, he earned eight wins, four poles, and 15 top-fives.

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