Kelly's victory a Classic

Schereville, IN (September 18, 2005) — The annual Tony Bettenhausen Classic at Illiana Speedway started off as a wreckfest Saturday, with the defending race champion knocked out of commission after just one lap.It soon turned into a glittering show of speed and power, with 2005 track champion Pat Kelly turning in one of the best performances of his career.Kelly, who also won the track championship in 2000, took the lead from Boris Jurkovic on lap 26 and never looked back. It was Kelly's second Bettenhausen Classic victory.

"This car tonight showed what this team is all about," he said. "The car's been phenomenal. The guys work hard."We had a cracked head on the car (Friday morning). These guys found it, fixed it, sealed the block and they just don't quit working. I get tired and worn out sometimes, but they never get worn out."

Kelly didn't look worn out Saturday."No, it was a good time," Kelly said, smiling. "The competition was there. Nathan Haseleu, Eddie Hoffman, Mike White ... the whole field was a great field. We didn't think we'd be here (victory lane), but that shows what the team is all about."

Thirty cars were entered in the 100-lap feature, with Robbie Pyle setting the all-time one-lap track record in qualifying (19.409). Among the other "name" drivers in the field were Brett Sontag, Erik Darnell, John Nutley and Gary St. Amant.Then there was Dave Weltmeyer.The "Dyer Flyer" came into the race as the defending champion and a four-time winner. He started fifth on the grid, but had his night come to a crashing halt on lap 2.Jeff Way, who started in Row 2, had a problem with his No. 68 while completing the first lap.

Way skidded through the infield and came back out on the track in Turn 1, right in front of Weltmeyer, Jack Landis, Joe O'Connor and Jerry Sharp, who were in close formation.Weltmeyer's No. 16 was hit from behind and piled into the wall. It was taken away on a flatbed, as was Landis' No. 18.None of the four was able to restart the race.

"I saw the accident before it happened," a sad, but not injured, Weltmeyer said. "I was trying to avoid it. I got clipped in the back a little bit and got my car sideways. Then I got hit in the right front wheel."I don't know how he (Way) got so out of shape. I'm just disappointed for my sponsors and my fans and friends who came out here tonight. I guess we've got to race another year."

Way knew exactly why he got out of shape, but that didn't make him feel any better about starting the chain reaction.  "I was bleeding the brakes and I forgot to readjust the bias," he said. "I got on the brakes going into Turn 1 and it just hooked the rear end and it got me loose. Then I tried to overcorrect it. It just slid (through the infield) and I was praying.  I feel bad for those other guys." 

Way didn't crash, and was able to adjust his brakes during the ensuing red flag. He restarted in the back of the pack and finished 13th.  Jurkovic took the lead from early pacesetter Chris Gabehart on lap 3. Jurkovic stayed there for several laps while Kelly methodically worked his way up from eighth. On lap 21, Kelly took second away from Sontag and quickly went to work on Jurkovic. They were side by side on lap 25 before Kelly breezed by on the outside.  Jurkovic was able to maintain second, but by the end he was more concerned with holding off Haseleu than catching Kelly. 

"Nothing for Kelly," Jurkovic said. "I thought when a caution came out (on lap 81) he might have been coming back to us. But after the restart he showed how much power he had and how much muscle he had.  Heck of a driver, heck of a race. I've got to thank Nathan (Haseleu) for not giving me too much of a hard time. We were racing pretty hard there." 

Hoffman made a late charge to finish fourth. White and Sontag were close behind in fifth and sixth. Jeff Cannon, Pyle, Darnell and Tom Smith completed the top 10.