Kelly Racing opens for V8SC assault

The new Kelly Racing Team have announced that spirit producer, Jack Daniel’s, will be the primary sponsor on both Holden Commodores driven by brothers Todd and Rick Kelly. The new cars were unveiled in the team’s new Braeside workshop in Melbourne and will make up half of a four car Super-team.

The announcement puts to rest a number of rumours about the sponsorship strategy for Australia’s newest race team, including the use of NASCAR strategy, which would have seen a four car team with four different naming right sponsors.
Todd’s car will wear the number 7, a number has a lot of history with Jack Daniel’s and Rick’s car will bare his familiar number 15.

Jack Daniel’s first entered the series in 2006, after Australia’s laws on hard liquor advertising were eased, with Larry Perkin’s race team. Perkins closed his race team at the end of 2008 to concentrate on the engineering side of his business; leaving Jack Daniel’s open to discuss other opportunities with other race teams.

The new Kelly Racing cars will compete in all 14 events and the non-championship Australian Grand Prix in 2009 in the Jack Daniel’s Colours. In addition, Todd and Rick will compete together in both endurance races at Philip Island and Bathurst.
The only time that the two have raced together was in the 2006 endurance events when they drove the HSV Toll Commodore to second place at the Betta Electrical 500 at Sandown, and the Supercheap Auto 1000 at Bathurst.

This season will mark the second season that Jack Daniel’s will be on the bodywork of a race car driven by Todd Kelly.
“I had an instant bond with Jack Daniel’s and its key personnel last season at Perkins Racing and it’s fantastic that they have joined us as our naming-rights partner,” said Todd Kelly.

“Jack Daniel’s is one of the strongest brands in the world and we are privileged to have it on the side of our cars in our debut season.

“Jack Daniel himself once said in reference to his Tennessee whiskey ‘every day we make it, we’ll make it the best we can’, and I guess if we take the same attitude into our new racing operation we can only move forward.

“The Jack Daniel’s management, staff and customer base are some of the best people I have had the pleasure of meeting in racing and I look forward to making our operation as competitive as possible for all of them in 2009.”

For controversial 2006 Champ, Rick Kelly, 2009 marks the first real change in team’s since he started his career in 2001, HSV Dealer Team was called Holden Young Lions, the K-Mart Racing.
“The support we have had from Jack Daniel’s as we have gone through the tough months of establishing our own team has been incredible,” said Rick.

“This is obviously an exciting year for our entire family because we have the responsibility of our own team, Todd and I get to race together as team-mates in V8 Supercar and we have all that to share with Jack Daniel’s and everyone associated with the brand. “

“Todd and I will be racing each other as hard as ever, but from now on I guess we will be a little happier if the other one manages a big result.”

“The partnering of Todd Kelly and Rick Kelly in 2009 provides the opportunity to further reinforce the ‘Pace Yourself. Drink Responsibility’ message, which is the core element of the Jack Daniel’s Racing Platform,” said Jack Daniel’s Australia Managing Director, Michael McShane.

“The ability to have high profile sportsmen Todd and Rick Kelly, to assist in promoting the importance of drinking responsibly is critically important and we are thrilled to be able to reinforce this message thorough our association with Kelly Racing,” said McShane.

“Starting their own operation is a major step for the Kelly brothers, but we applaud their passion and commitment to the sport and believe they will both be great ambassadors for the Jack Daniel’s brand.

“If the work ethic they have displayed over the last couple of months in structuring this team is any indication, I think we can expect some solid results.”
Jack Perkins and Fujitsu Series Driver, Dale Wood, will drive the remaining two Kelly Racing cars. It is unclear whether Jack Daniel’s will sponsor their cars, or another sponsor will come a aboard. It is possible that a shared sponsorship program could be put in place.
The Jack Daniel’s Holdens will hit the track at Winton in North-East Victoria tomorrow for an initial shakedown, while all four Kelly Racing entries will return for an official V8 Supercar test day on Monday, March 9.