Start-and-parkers are the fat kid with glasses in the great kickball game that is NASCAR: nobody wants 'em around, everybody dumps on 'em, and the sooner they're out of the way, the better. (Meanwhile, they're sitting there plotting silently, and they either snap and become serial killers or kick in and become billionaires. But that's where the metaphor breaks down.)
Anyway, Kelly Bires can sympathize with the start-and-parkers, because for awhile, he was one. Show up, put the car on the track, get a couple circuits in, then get out before you trash anything. Very similar to swiping your dad's car when you're 15 ... or so I'm told.
But fortunately for Bires, the start-and-park days have come to an end. When Brad Keselowski bolted for the Sprint Cup pastures of Roger Penske, Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s Nationwide team suddenly found itself in need of a new driver. And Bires got the gig.
He's coming off a year in which he finished 13th in the Nationwide series despite having a patchwork of sponsors. His association with Junior is almost certain to raise his profile, and he's now got the hardware to make a run at the Nationwide championship.
If nothing else, he'll get to finally finish a few races.
From start-and-park to a ride in Dale Jr.'s stable [NASCAR.com]
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