PROgression: Kelly Wood - NASCAR Whelen Series
She turned heads quickly when she entered the Ontario karting scene just two short years ago and Huntsville's Kelly Wood is doing the same in stock cars as she won in just her third NASCAR Whelen Series start last Saturday. Racing under the lights at Barrie Speedway, Wood captured a 25-lap Feature in scoring her maiden stock car win.
"It was a rush to get the car ready in only a week before racing, so to win my third race was very exciting and also a little bit surprising," Wood said early this week. A mid-race caution that sent the lead pair of cars to the back of the pack opened the door for the rookie and she made no mistake in running to the chequered flag. "When the restart came I was thinking 'Oh-my-God I'm in the lead! This is awesome!' I was excited but I was focussed too, so I just drove it as hard as I could to the chequered."
Running the Charger Class to gain experience prior to a move to Limited Late Model, Wood ran two reverse-grid heats prior to the Feature. In the first eight-lap run she started on the inside of row two and finished fifth, and in the second she ran from the back to sixth, all of which added to a starting position of sixth for the Feature. Wood made a great start initially, moving to fourth with passes before a hit from behind led to a caution flag. "In stock car racing when there is an accident on the first lap a caution comes out and they re-form the entire grid in original positions," she said of the first start. "The difference is that the car weighs five times as much as a kart - and can take five times the damage!"
Starting the Feature a second time, Wood once again moved to fourth quickly and after reaching third she found herself closing on the leaders as the race hit half distance. When the pair were sent to the back of the field for making avoidable contact that led to a caution, Wood was heading a line of 19 cars with ten laps to run. With a great restart, she was never challenged and went on to score a commanding first win. "It was a fantastic feeling that of course couldn't come without help," Wood concluded. "I have to thank my parents, Choko Motorsports, Rino Montanari, Dwayne Macleod, Mark Dilley, Randy Robinson and Maggie Rittenhouse from Robinson's Independent Grocer, and Jamie from Fast Eddie's Racewear."
The last two months have been a busy time for Kelly Wood Racing as the team made its full-time switch to cars from karts. Along with Late Model testing, Wood has joined the NASCAR pit crew of Mark Dilley's #9, started presenting a show car across Ontario, and been drumming up sponsor interest.
Courtesy of : www.ekartingnews.ca
