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KELLY FIGHTING ON DESPITE TOUGH START
A TOUGH start to the 2023 Trans Am season has failed to dampen Owen Kelly’s approach to the intensely competitive series this year.
Kelly sits fifth in the standings following the opening three rounds of the year, a single race win to his credit at Phillip Island the highlight in an otherwise challenging campaign.
Despite qualifying second, second and fourth in the three rounds held so far, Kelly’s season has been characterised by impressive comeback drives through the field after misfortune or misadventure has sent him tumbling down the order.
“This year we’ve had a shocker so far!” Kelly told the On the Grid Podcast this week.
“I don’t know if it’s luck or something else, but a few things have gone wrong this year here and there so we’re not quite where we want to be.
“But we do the same thing every time, we don’t change the plan we just go out and try to win every race and let the points take care of themselves.”
Despite the challenges, the former Supercars and NASCAR racer says he’s still a big fan of the category – which has undergone a surge in popularity and also competition this year.
“We’re having fun. It’s a great championship and we really like the cars,” he said.
“They’re from America and they’re a lot like what we used to run over there so it’s somewhat familiar.
“I like what it’s about. The cars are fun to drive. Like anything they could probably use another 2-300 horsepower, which would be awesome, but you always say that!
“The competition is really good. We showed last year when Brodie Kostecki did a round – he was in the mix, yes, but no one comes in there and dominates which is good to get those guys in to show the competitiveness of it.”
James Moffat leads the series by just nine points following the first three rounds this year.
A sweep of the recent Winton event saw young-gun Lochie Dalton’s AWC GRM Mustang draw close to Moffat’s Valvoline Ford that has led the points since the opening round.
The consistent Tom Hayman sits third while Josh Webster is fourth in his Dream Racing Australia car.
With Kelly fifth, John Hollinger, Craig Scutella, Cody Gillis, Brett Holdsworth, and Elliot Barbour round out the Top 10.
The Trans Am Series will be back in action with the Shannons SpeedSeries at Queensland Raceway this August 11-13.
View the full schedule. https://www.speedseries.com.au/queensland/
Those wishing to attend the event can secure their tickets at motorsporttickets.com.au.
The fifth round of the Shannons SpeedSeries will take place at Queensland Raceway on 11-13 August.