Brad Keselowski’s departure to Penske Racing leaves a seat open at JR Motorsports. Now it’s President Kelley Earnhardt, owners Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Rick Hendrick’s job to find a replacement. Junior Nation and NASCAR fans are now wondering who.
This past week, Kelley Earnhardt confirmed a report that current Nationwide Series driver Kelly Bires is the front runner for the No. 88 car. That’s no surprise as Bires is the front runner for every ride available in the Nationwide Series.
The 25-year-old from Mauston, Wisc. has been rumored for several rides for next season. Bires is starting a ride at CJM Racing, car No. 11 next weekend at Richmond. Rumors are swirling that he will finish out the year in the No. 11 Toyota and have a clean slate for next season.
Kevin Harvick mentioned that he wanted Bires, who ran two races for Harvick this season and finished fourth and 10th, to drive part time for him next season. Harvick has driven the majority of the races in his No. 33 Chevrolet and wants to split the ride with Bires next season.
Bires has also run races in the No. 10 Toyota, the No.47 Toyota and the No. 91 Chevrolet. However, Bires does not seem to be in the running for any those rides in 2010.
That leaves Bires with three options for next season -- JR Motorsports, Kevin Harvick Incorporated, and the CJM Racing Toyota. I think one thing will determine Bires decision.
JR Motorsports is well known for being affiliated with Hendrick Motorsports. Keselowski is running seven races for Hendrick in the No. 25 Chevrolet with GoDaddy.com as the sponsor. Will Hendrick and the sponsor be interested in doing the same thing with Bires? That is to be determined.
Kevin Harvick Incorporated most likely will combine with Stewart-Haas Racing after the 2010 season, when Harvick’s contract is up with Richard Childress Racing. Will Tony Stewart open a part-time ride in a Cup car to court Bires to the No. 33? Also, will Harvick get a second car in the Nationwide Series next season? Bires wants to run full season next year and is not looking to share a ride.
CJM Racing announced a technical alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing before this season. The No. 11 team fired former driver Scott Lagasse Jr. and announced Bires will drive at Richmond. An interesting twist in this scenario is that Joe Gibbs Racing announced that they will run a fourth car for four races with Farm Bureau Insurance as the sponsor, later on in 2009. However, no driver has yet been announced. David Gilliland appears to be the front runner for those four races, but will Gibbs, give Bires a shot?
One thing is for sure: Bires is going to go where he will advance his career more. I feel it will take a Cup ride to get Bires to come over to the ride. I think it’s either between the No. 11 or the No. 88 unless Harvick gives Bires a shot full time.
If Bires does go elsewhere, who else can Earnhardt Jr. and his organization hire?
Landon Cassill ran 16 races for Hendrick Motorsports last season. Cassill, 20, still has a developmental contract with Hendrick. Will the sponsors for JR Motorsports will want an unproven kid who has five top tens in 25 starts? I wonder.
Rumors have swirled that young 18-year-old Trevor Bayne is up for the ride. Bayne is driving 12 races for Michael Waltrip Racing in 2009. Nothing in Bayne’s future is set in stone, but he is popular and has run well at a very young age. Many experts believe if Bayne learns patience that he will be a star one day.
Another option is to put veterans in the car. Maybe the sponsors on the No. 88 want a proven winner. Scott Wimmer, who has won two career races in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, is driving six races for JR Motorsports in his No. 5 Chevrolet this season. Mike Bliss was recently released from his No. 1 ride. This season he won at Richmond. Bliss may be a candidate, although a long shot.
Kelly Bires is the front runner for most rides, however, I believe a Cup ride will make up his mind. If JR Motorsports can’t come up with a cup ride, it is possible Bires will go elsewhere, leaving a lot of options for Dale Earnhardt Jr.
