Kelly Fifth In NASCAR Debut

Elkhart Lake, June 20, 2010: Australian driver Owen Kelly has finished in an outstanding fifth place in his NASCAR debut at the Bucyrus 200 at the Road America road course in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin today.

Kelly turned in a storming finish aboard the #27 K1 Speed Ford Fusion of Baker Curb Racing, passing cars and racing up the order after suffering a front tyre puncture with 20 laps to go.

Kelly was forced to drive his car around the majority of the 4.048-mile road course (6.515 km) on the cut tyre to return to the pits, which in turn broke the car’s front sway bar.

With an ill-handling car as a result, Kelly battled on after dropping to 18th as a result of the puncture, but was able to move back through the field and score a stunning NASCAR Nationwide Series debut.

Sprint Cup Series driver Carl Edwards won today’s race ahead of Canadian road course ace Ron Fellows and Nationwide Series regular Brendan Gaughan.

WHAT OWEN HAD TO SAY …

Owen Kelly - #27 Baker Curb Racing Ford Fusion:

“With 20 laps to go I cut a right front tyre and had to drive on the rim for almost an entire lap,” said Kelly.

“Driving back to the pits broke the front sway bar and the car handled like a speedboat from then on.

“We put new tyres on it and made sure we pulled the guard out. We lined up about 18th as the last car on the lead lap with about 18 laps to go.

“I managed to come through the field and pick up a heap of spots. The car was a bit of a handful but I just had to get on with it.

“I’m really happy with that. We had a good car before the sway bar fell off and were right on the pace all weekend.

“It made it difficult at the end but all things considered it’s a great result and I couldn’t be happier.

“A top five in the Nationwide Series is difficult to get at any time, so I’m pretty pumped to get one in my first race.

“It was not only my debut, I hadn’t driven a Nationwide car at all before first practice, so to have all that stacked up against me and come through with a good result was great.

“The team was awesome and helped me learn on the go. We’ve come through and everyone here is really pleased.

“Those double file restarts are crazy enough on ovals, but man they are hectic on a road course.

“Every time you line up, everyone bunches up and it’s ‘elbows out’, you are trying to look ahead and see what’s happening and make sure you miss the wrecks.

“It was really cool to be racing against guys that I’ve been watching forever on TV.

“To be right up the front racing against them and racing for a top five was just awesome.

“In the end I just had to grab a hold of the car by the throat and have a go.

“I had to get this first race under my belt to show that I can do it.

“You can walk up and down the pit lane talking to teams as much as you want but until they have seen you do it they don’t really know, so it’s so hard to get that first break.

“This will make it a lot easier to try and get something going for the next two Nationwide Series road races.”