After carhopping in the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2009, Wisconsin-native Kelly Bires has signed on to drive for JR Motorsports for the next two years. Brad Keselowski, who piloted the No. 88 previously, has moved to the Sprint Cup Series with Penske Racing which left a seat open for Bires who had been hoping for a full-time ride.

The now 25-year-old began racing go-karts at the age of nine and his natural talent was obvious. Bires moved to the Great Lakes Allison Legacy Series and then on to Super Late Models before competing in the ASA Late Model Series and winning the 2006 championship.

That year, he also made his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut behind the wheel of a Wood Brothers/JTG Racing truck in which he finished a very respectable 19th.

In 2007, Bires drove in seven Truck Series events and earned a new career-best finishing position of 10th. He also made his debut in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and ran 19 events with a best finish of 7th in only his second Series start.

2008 saw Bires in a full-time Nationwide ride behind the wheel of the No. 47 Ford. He raced his way to one top-5 finish and six top-10’s. Unfortunately, due to a lack of sponsorship, he was released from the team at the end of the season.

But, with that year’s performance as proof of his driving abilities in NASCAR’s number two division, Bires showed Sprint Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. that he has what it takes to be successful. He made his first start with JR Motorsports at the final race of the 2009 season in Homestead and will take to the asphalt at Daytona in February.

Sponsorship issues with Bires’ new team have just been revealed but when he, once again, shows how talented he is early in 2010, a sponsor will hopefully see how valuable he is to the sport.

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