JR Motorsports announced yesterday it has ended the contract of rising star Kelly Bires for what the team calls "lack of chemistry" and will replace the 25-year driver for the following 8 Nationwide races with Jamie McMurray.
In the last five races, the best finish for Bires was a seventh spot at Fontana. In all the other races, he was well passed a top-10 finish, managing even a discouraging 42 finish in the Vegas race, where he crashed during lap 5.
The track to see McMurray behind the wheel of the No. 88 Chevrolet are Texas (April 17), Talladega (April 24), Richmond (April 30), Darlington (May 7), Dover (May 15) and Charlotte (May 30), Chicagoland (July 9), Atlanta (Sept. 4).
"We are extremely appreciative of Kelly Bires and wish him the best," Earnhardt said. "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' ousting will not affect the other JRM team, who will continue to use multiple drivers. So far, the No. 7 team used three drivers, with the only certain one remaining Danica Patrick are her 10 other scheduled races.
In the last five races, the best finish for Bires was a seventh spot at Fontana. In all the other races, he was well passed a top-10 finish, managing even a discouraging 42 finish in the Vegas race, where he crashed during lap 5.
The track to see McMurray behind the wheel of the No. 88 Chevrolet are Texas (April 17), Talladega (April 24), Richmond (April 30), Darlington (May 7), Dover (May 15) and Charlotte (May 30), Chicagoland (July 9), Atlanta (Sept. 4).
"We are extremely appreciative of Kelly Bires and wish him the best," Earnhardt said. "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' ousting will not affect the other JRM team, who will continue to use multiple drivers. So far, the No. 7 team used three drivers, with the only certain one remaining Danica Patrick are her 10 other scheduled races.