(Photo courtesy of Layn Mudder of LPT Images.)
Dacotah Speedway: What is your favorite thing about the Dacotah Speedway?
Kelly: My favorite thing about the Dacotah Speedway was the day I won my first ever feature in the Legends against Ivan Sailer. The previous week, he had beaten me and after the races, he flaunted the trophy in the pits and I swore if I had the chance to get him the following week, I was gonna come out on top and I did.
Dacotah Speedway: Why did you choose car number 21?
Kelly: I built my first race car when I was 21 years old.
Dacotah Speedway: What is your favorite movie?
Kelly: Six Pack with Kenny Rogers.
Dacotah Speedway: What was your first racing t-shirt?
Kelly: I designed my first racing t-shirt way back in the 1980’s. If I remember, I think Dan McDonald still has a cap and t-shirt somewhere.
Dacotah Speedway: What is your most memorable race and why?
Kelly: It was at the Bismarck track during the Governor’s Cup. I had just won my heat against some high dollar cars and Fargo. Leo Burkhardsmeier looked over the top of his enclosed trailer and asked what I did to my car to make it so good. I told him what I did and he said, “If I need my car set up for a wet track, I’m calling you.” It make this young driver feel proud as hell.
Dacotah Speedway: Who inspired you to get into racing?
Kelly: The one that inspired me the most was Ken Dagman. His car was the first car I ever got to race. After two years of begging, he sold me his race car and I have been racing ever since.
If you'd like to be featured on our "Beyond The Dirt" series call Michelle Stoxen at 527-7229 or Layn Mudder at 667-9420. The 2016 season of high banked, dirt track racing begins Friday, May 6th at Dacotah Speedway.