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Abu Dhabi: Jack Daniel's Racing race 2 report

RICK KELLY GRABS FOURTH PLACE IN ABU DHABI Jack Daniel's Racing driver Rick Kelly has grabbed an impressive fourth place finish in the second race of the Yas V8 400 at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi today. Kelly had a superb day aboard the ...

RICK KELLY GRABS FOURTH PLACE IN ABU DHABI

Jack Daniel's Racing driver Rick Kelly has grabbed an impressive fourth place finish in the second race of the Yas V8 400 at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi today.

Kelly had a superb day aboard the #15 Jack Daniel's Racing Holden Commodore, qualifying third earlier in the day to equal his best qualifying performance for Jack Daniel's Racing.

In the race the 27-year-old got a great jump off the line, passing polesitter Mark Winterbottom on the run to the first corner to slot into second place.

Kelly then drove a smart race, staying out of trouble and collecting a fourth place finish in the 43-lap event, holding out a fast finishing Craig Lowndes in the final stages.

The result leaves Kelly in seventh place in the championship standings after the opening event of the year, with the 2006 V8 Supercar champion pleased to have posted a solid points score to kick-off the season.

Unfortunately Todd Kelly again had a tough time aboard the #7 Jack Daniel's Racing Holden Commodore, involved in three separate on-track incidents in today's race. His chances were dashed early when caught up in an incident in the opening laps of the race.

Kelly was forced to make an additional pit stop after suffering a puncture to his front tyre following contact with Daniel Gaunt on the entry to the Corkscrew section, dropping him down a lap to eventually finish in 26th position.

Jamie Whincup won his second race for the weekend in Abu Dhabi today ahead of Mark Winterbottom, Shane van Gisbergen and Rick Kelly.

The second event of the 2010 V8 Supercar Championship Series will be staged next weekend when the Gulf Air Desert 400 is staged at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain.

JACK DANIEL'S RACING QUOTEBOARD

Rick Kelly - #15 Jack Daniel's Racing Holden Commodore:

"We had a tough start to the weekend and I'm really stoked that we managed to fight back to get a fourth," said Rick Kelly.

"Swenno (David Swenson -- Race Engineer, #15 Jack Daniel's Racing Holden Commodore) has done a great job with the set-up of the car.

"We were still a little bit behind others as far as track time because of practice. We fixed a couple of little things on the car to get more pace and we will definitely be in line to get a podium at this event.

"We just need to keep trying to finish in the top five and top three to get points and momentum for the championship.

"As I was driving around out there on the last couple of laps I was thinking it is already a year until we are going to come back here, because it's such an awesome facility.

"It's not often at a race track that you feel like that. We've really enjoyed the weekend.

"It's been good for Jack Daniel's Racing to build a solid start to the championship and a bit of confidence and that's what we need moving forward for the rest of the year."

Todd Kelly - #7 Jack Daniel's Racing Holden Commodore:

"It's been one of those weekends," said Todd Kelly.

"It's not good to start a season like that. We started with a clean slate here and we are nowhere.

"It's pretty disappointing. We are going to have to sort our stuff out for the next few rounds and just keep our head down and try and get some points back."

-source: kelly racing

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