By Darren Lum
Published June 30 2020
Dalton Kellett is gearing up for his NTT IndyCar Series racing debut this weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) from July 3 to 4 at the GMR Grand Prix.
He’ll be piloting the No. 14 K-Line Insulators USA Chevrolet in the top open-wheeled North American racing series for A.J. Foyt racing.
Dalton who spent many of his childhood summers at the “Kellett compound” at Mountain Lake received an education in the arts through regular summer study at the Haliburton School of Art + Design (then called Haliburton School of the Arts) as a child and then learned the value of a dollar by instructing at Sir Sam’s in the winter where he earned his first paycheque as a teen.
His mother Cinde and father Mark are proud of their son for his success in academics and driving achievements.
“Under normal circumstances performing at the IndyCar level takes a great deal of hard work and commitment. And like other professional athletes whose normal training routines have been interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic Dalton has had to persevere training even harder and making important adjustments to ensure that he remains in peak condition leading up to his debut on July 4 at the IMS Speedway in Indianapolis” Cinde wrote in an email. “Like his grandfather Glenn [Kellett] who took a chance and chased his dreams in the business world we are so proud of our son for the commitment and dedication he’s shown and continues to show in fulfilling his own dreams in pro sports. Mark and I will be watching him and cheering him on with other family members. ”
Glenn Kellett had a residence on Mountain Lake in Minden and founded the K-Line group of companies with one truck which has grown to include a fleet of vehicles and several hundred employees.
Dalton Kellett moved up from the Indy Lights Series where he earned three podium finishes at IMS.
He didn’t just make a dream come true but also did it while pursuing excellence in post-secondary education. He is a graduate of Queen’s University with a bachelor of science in engineering physics. In an interview he said his education allows him to communicate more thoroughly with the team’s engineers. Communication is even more important at the IndyCar level due to the greater technological complexity of the machinery relative to lower tiers of racing.
His Nana and widow of Glenn Juanita Kellett said there is a part of her husband within her grandson.
“I am very proud of my grandson Dalton and his achievements. I marvelled at his ability to stay focused in his studies at Queen’s University while racing as well. Dalton is a humble boy who is dedicated to his profession and those around him very much like his grandfather Glenn Kellett. I wish him all the very best in the future and I will be watching from my home in London Ontario” she wrote in an email.
As much of the world was shutdown for COVID-19 the IndyCar rookie was busy preparing for the season by training physically and mentally including spending an inordinate amount of time on the driving simulator. He had been scheduled to debut on April 26 at Circuit of Americas but due to the pandemic was delayed by another 10 weeks.
Dalton is planning on driving in the iconic Indianapolis 500 oval race and scheduled to race at Road America Mid-Ohio Laguna Seca and IMS this fall.
The young Canadian who lives in Indianapolis is excited about the opportunity to race for the first time in IndyCar.
“It’s a big moment for any driver and I’m very excited to represent Canada represent my partners and the legendary A.J. Foyt Racing team. Like I said I can’t wait to go racing” he said during an interview while on Off the Grid.
