By Darren Lum
Dalton Kellett the grandson of the late-Glenn Kellett of Minden is on the home stretch in his bid to race the big time of automobile open-wheel racing the Indy Racing League.
Several weeks ago Andretti Autosport announced the 22-year-old is being added to the Indy roster for the upcoming 2016 season. After spending two seasons on the Mazda Pro circuit Kellett will drive the No. 28 K-Line Insulators American machine racing in the Indy Lights presented by Cooper tires program – one step from the Indy Racing League.
This is his second year with the Andretti racing team started by former racer Michael Andretti son to racing legend Mario.
In a press release Kellett expressed his excitement for the upcoming season.
“I’m very excited to return with Andretti Autosport for the 2016 season in Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires” said Kellett. “2015 marked my first year with the team in the Pro Mazda Championship having the opportunity to grow that relationship in the upcoming season is an immense honour. I feel like over the last year we did a lot of good work with the Pro Mazda and I’m very excited to get to work with the IL-15 for its second season in competition.”
Kellett has deep roots in the area.
That includes Minden’s Glenn Kellett who had a cottage/home on Mountain Lake. He started the 400 employee strong company K-Line Group with one truck.
Although he didn’t attend primary or high school in the Highlands Kellett spent many summers staying at the “Kellett compound” up at Mountain Lake and regularly attending Haliburton School of the Arts classes as a child. Eagle Lake is where he earned his first paycheque working at Sir Sam’s Ski and Ride as an instructor.
Mother Cinde and father Mark are proud of their son and his achievements.
“He continues to set goals for himself and works hard to achieve them. Having the opportunity to race Indy Lights for the Andretti team is amazing. We are so excited for next year. With his engineering physics degree achieved now he can focus solely on racing” Cinde wrote in an email.
“This season will be the first year that I won’t have to go back to school and I’m looking forward to having the entire off season to do lots of testing with the team and get fit for the season opener. I’m very happy to have K-Line Insulators back on the car and want to thank Andretti Autosport for this opportunity. I’m looking forward to a very successful season in Indy Lights.”
Other drivers that competed in Indy Lights and moved on include a who’s who of Canadian racers such as Paul Tracy and Greg Moore.
