Kelly then used his soft compound Dunlop ‘option' tyres for the first half of the race, switching to the harder control tyres on lap 22, driving a smooth and consistent race to collect an impressive result.
Rick Kelly narrowly missed the Top 10 Shootout, running off the track at Kolb Corner with five minutes remaining in qualifying, slightly delaying his final run at a quick time and leaving him stranded in 11th position.
He then charged through the field to be fifth by the end of the second lap, starting the race on his soft compound ‘option' tyres and then switching to the harder tyres on lap six, saving his softs for tomorrow.
Jamie Whincup won today's race ahead of Todd Kelly and Mark Winterbottom, with a further 84-lap race to be held tomorrow.
JACK DANIEL'S RACING QUOTEBOARD
Todd Kelly - #7 Jack Daniel's Racing Holden Commodore:
Post-Race Press Conference ...
QUESTION: You must be pretty happy with second place?
"It's been a while. I've been chasing that trophy all year and like I said out on the podium, when you work so hard for something it's a hell of a lot more rewarding.
"The boys have done a magic job to start the team at the beginning of the year and to end up racing guys and being on the podium towards the end is what we said we wanted. But we were a little scared about whether we would be able to pull it off when we said that we would like to be in a position to win races by the end of the year.
"So to be able to achieve that is huge, because we don't have the budgets and the infrastructure of a lot of the teams we are competing against. So it means a lot. It's a great day for the boys.
QUESTION: It certainly means a lot to your team. I was watching the team on the track post-race and they really are embellishing and absorbing it. There is a really good vibe of positivity around Kelly Racing at the moment, isn't there?
"Yeah and it's taken a lot of work. A lot of people don't know but we've been through a few staff members this year and it takes a lot of work and a lot of effort to get the right group of people.
"I've been doing this for 10, 11, 12 years now and have been in a lot of teams and to have a group of guys connect like that, especially when you are twice the size of most teams, to get twice as many people to mould together like that is pretty difficult.
"For us to be in that position now is incredible and it makes a huge difference. We've got a great bunch of guys."
QUESTION: Rick also finished well inside the top 10 in seventh spot and he's seventh in the championship. Pre-season your objective was to try and finish in the top eight in the championship so you're certainly on target there. You have your own Chase-style points score - are you fulfilling the expectations you have for the last few races?
"Well one of us is (laughs). Since we started our own little championship, I was right at the back of the field after Indy and at the back of the field after Phillip Island, so I'd like to start it again now. If Rick doesn't mind ... I'll have to have a chat with him."
(ED: taking just the past four races into account - two from Surfers, two from Phillip Island - Rick has scored the third most championship points of all drivers. Kelly Racing is calculating the points post-Bathurst internally to judge its late-season form).
QUESTION: Todd can you just elaborate a bit on how difficult it's been putting up with the failures and doing all the development before finally getting the reward you have at the moment?
"It has been hard but that's what we do. When Rick and I got into the sport when we were 16, 17 years old, it was the same thing. Back in Mildura we worked on our own cars and the other guys rolled into the teams with their money and had awesome cars from previous years.
"It's always been tough so getting into the sport was a little bit like that so we're no strangers to it. When you go through that and there is a light at the end of the tunnel there is nothing that you can ever do that is as rewarding as that.
"Basically all the team now thinks the same way. They've worked harder than most in pit lane and now with a little bit of success it means a lot to them as well."
Rick Kelly - #7 Jack Daniel's Racing Holden Commodore:
"For us today was a reasonable day," said Rick Kelly.
"We were just trying to edge our way towards fifth in the championship. We had Steven Johnson finish behind but Mark Winterbottom finish in front.
"It wasn't too bad for us and we still have some credit left on our soft compound tyres.
"Qualifying today again let us down. I made a mistake and it put us back in 11th.
"We still have good tyres for tomorrow so we are probably in a reasonable boat there and if we get a good qualifying run tomorrow and pick the right soft tyre strategy then we should be able to finish in front of those guys."
2009 V8 Supercar Championship Series
Points Standings after Race 23 of 26
1. Jamie Whincup 3055
2. Will Davison 2894
3. Garth Tander 2637
4. Craig Lowndes 2394
5. Mark Winterbottom 2093
6. Steven Johnson 2039
7. Rick Kelly 2021
8. James Courtney 1910
9. Lee Holdsworth 1886
10. Russell Ingall 1760
15. Todd Kelly 1561
RESULTS: Race One (Series Race 23)
1. #1 Jamie Whincup 42 laps
2. #7 Todd Kelly
3. #5 Mark Winterbottom
4. #18 James Courtney
5. #22 Will Davison
6. #888 Craig Lowndes
7. #15 Rick Kelly
8. #51 Greg Murphy
9. #39 Russell Ingall
10. #17 Steven Johnson
RESULTS: Top 10 Shootout
1. #888 Craig Lowndes 0:57.1862
2. #1 Jamie Whincup 0:57.1914
3. #17 Steven Johnson 0:57.2246
4. #22 Will Davison 0:57.2688
5. #7 Todd Kelly 0:57.3226
6. #5 Mark Winterbottom 0:57.3753
7. #33 Lee Holdsworth 0:57.3938
8. #2 Garth Tander 0:57.4571
9. #39 Russell Ingall 0:57.5289
10. #18 James Courtney 0:57.7084
RESULTS: Qualifying
1. #1 Jamie Whincup 0:56.9288
2. #7 Todd Kelly 0:57.2013
3. #2 Garth Tander 0:57.2192
4. #22 Will Davison 0:57.2308
5. #888 Craig Lowndes 0:57.2439
6. #17 Steven Johnson 0:57.2445
7. #39 Russell Ingall 0:57.2819
8. #5 Mark Winterbottom 0:57.2948
9. #18 James Courtney 0:57.3019
10. #33 Lee Holdsworth 0:57.3316
11. #15 Rick Kelly 0:57.3585
BIGPOND 300 DETAILS:
Circuit: Barbagallo Raceway
Location: Wanneroo, Western Australia
Circuit Length: 2.415 kilometres
Format: 100km race Saturday and 200km race Sunday
2008 Pole Position: Mark Winterbottom
2008 Race One Winner: Mark Winterbottom
2008 Race Two Winner: Mark Winterbottom
2008 Race Three Winner: Mark Winterbottom
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
All times are local Australian Western Standard Time (WA)
Add three hours for Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Time
Friday 20 November 2009
12:25pm - 1:00pm: Practice - Part A
1:15pm - 2:05pm: Practice - Part B
2:45pm - 3:35pm: Practice - Part C
Saturday 21 November 2009
9:30am - 9:50am: Qualifying - Leg 1
9:55am - 10:10am: Qualifying - Leg 2
10:25am - 10:55am: Top 10 Shootout
1:05pm: Race 1 (Series Race 23) - 42 laps
Sunday 22 November 2009
10:00am - 10:20am: Qualifying (for Race 2)
12:35pm: Race 2 (Series Race 24) - 84 laps
TELEVISION SCHEDULE - SEVEN NETWORK
Times subject to amendment - please check local guides.
Saturday 21 November 2009
2:00pm - 5:00pm AEDST
Sunday 22 November 2009
2:00pm - 5:00pm AEDST
