Kelly Bires will drive the No. 47 Clorox Ford in Saturday night’s A####mp;T 250. He is driving in relief of Jon Wood, who’s recovering from an adverse reaction to prescribed medication. Wood’s status at Wood Brothers/JTG Racing remains race-by-race. Bires grew up 142 miles away in Mauston, Wis. He considers The Milwaukee Mile is hometown track in NASCAR.
“Everyone at Wood Brothers/JTG Racing has worked so hard to make me feel comfortable in the Clorox Ford," Bires said. "I know it’s not easy dealing with a rookie, but they’ve been real patient and that makes my job a little easier."
RACE INFORMATION:
What – A####mp;T 250 NASCAR Busch Series race When – Saturday, June 23, 8:30 p.m. ET Where – The Milwaukee Mile Networks – ESPN2, Sirius Satellite Channel 128
Adverse reactions to ADD meds or not, Jon Wood is having neurological problems. The bright side is Bires ran in the top ten last week at Kentucky. Look out! The Wood Brothers might have something here.
Move Marcos Ambrose into the 21 and give Bires the 47. Tough luck for Jon. But #### happens.
Stephen Leicht, who drives Robert Yates Racing’s entry in the NASCAR Busch Series, won his first series race last weekend and became the first non-Nextel Cup regular to win a series race this season. Ironically, the same scenario unfolded last season when then-Busch driver David Gilliland pulled off a surprise win at Kentucky and was followed by Paul Menard’s win at The Milwaukee Mile. Until Leicht’s victory, Cup drivers had won every series race since.
“It is starting to sink in. It sets in more when I am with my team," Leicht said. "I don’t think the smiles have left their faces since we left victory lane,” said Leicht, who will look for his second consecutive win in Saturday‘s A####mp;T 250 at The Milwaukee Mile in West Allis, Wisc. (8 p.m. Eastern, ESPN2). “It is hard to describe how excited everyone is. I had to replay the end of the race a few times just to see the actual win and make sure that it was real.”
So who will it be? Marcos Ambrose? Bobby Hamilton Jr.,? Leicht again?
Marcos Ambrose has jumped back into the top 10 in the NASCAR Busch Series standings after a strong day earned him 11th place in the Meijer 300 at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Kentucky on Saturday. The solid finish lifts Ambrose up to eighth place in the 2007 NASCAR Busch Series standings and the Australian continues to sit in second place in the Raybestos Rookie of the Year standings behind fellow Ford driver David Ragan. Ambrose will next compete in the #59 Kingsford Charcoal Ford Fusion in the A####mp;T 250 at the Milwaukee Mile in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on June 23.
“This was a great day for our team. Wood Brothers/JTG Racing had two cars running inside the top 10 for most of the race today and everyone put in an excellent performance. It definitely feels like I have got a handle on these 1.5-mile ovals now. The next step is to get a little better on the short tracks, so we will see how we go next weekend on the flat, one mile oval in Milwaukee.”
Ambrose is second in the points among Busch regulars and is becoming a candidate for the 21 Wood Brothers/JTG Ford in Cup next year in light of Jon Wood's recent health issues.
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