Welcome to the NEW ChrisKellerRacing.com
(Las Vegas, NV – February 26, 2009) – Chris Keller is certainly well known in open-wheel auto
racing circles. But his notoriety just skyrocketed with this past weekend’s SCCA National
Convention in Las Vegas. Keller received two of the top awards of the day; the SCCA Jim
Fitzgerald Rookie of the Year Award, named after the 1970 National SCCA Champion, and the
highly coveted Mark Donohue Award, presented by the Road Racing Drivers Club (RRDC).
“When they started talking about ‘a karter who had 10 years of experience who was set to win
the Rookie of the Year Award,’ I was thinking that there was no one else that could fit that
description, so it started to hit me that I might get that award. I walked up on stage and was,
obviously, extremely surprised to receive that honor. I thank the SCCA for being so welcoming
to me as a new member, and I promise I’ll be an eternal spokesperson and supporter of their
Club. There's probably no better way to start off a season than a winning this amazing
award!
“The Formula Ford Series is an excellent training ground for any type of formula racing that
teaches maximizing the mechanical grip of the car without any help from aero, which is a skill
you'll need forever in open-wheel racing, and one I hope to utilize as I pursue a career in
IndyCar racing or Formula One.”
The Mark Donohue Award is given by the RRDC for outstanding performance, sportsmanship
and competitiveness during the SCCA Runoffs, which determine the Club’s annual
champions in amateur racing. The award is named for the late Mark Donohue, the American
road racing legend and 1967 President of the RRDC.
“Even though I was born a generation too late to see Mark Donohue race, I’ve read his
autobiography,” said Keller. “I’ve taken to heart his engineering-based concept of the ‘friction
circle.’ Understanding that concept and putting it to use in my go karts and now Formula Ford,
and learning how to tune my cars, has shortened the learning curve.
“Mark Donohue is definitely one of the top road racers of all time, and to have my name
mentioned in the same breath as his is really an honor and a privilege,” Keller said with
respect to the heroes of the sport.
The 20-year-old Keller, of Green Brook, NJ, competed in his first Formula Ford races in 2007,
after spending the 1999 -2007 seasons filling a page with a list of karting series
championships.
Keller’s championship performance in the Formula Ford class during last October’s event at
Heartland Park Topeka (KS) had never been accomplished by a rookie in previous SCCA
seasons.
“In 2008, the SCCA had a double-National two weeks before the Runoffs,” he noted. “I came
out for that to learn the track, but ended up winning both races and setting new qualifying and
race lap records.”
In the National Championship race, Keller put his Swift DB 6 on the pole, but was passed at
the start by both Tonis Kasemets and Tony Coello. He re-passed Coello on the second lap,
re-took the lead on lap 14, lost it again, then re-gained it for good on the last lap to win by
0.136 seconds.
Keller impressed everyone who was there to witness those magic moments, including RRDC
Vice President John Fergus, a six-time Runoffs champion. “Our observers agreed that, in a
tough class like Formula Ford, the skill and patience Chris showed – not making his pass too
early and risk getting re-passed – and the sportsmanship in his driving style, made him an
outstanding choice for the award,” stated Fergus.
RRDC President Bobby Rahal, a Runoffs champion long before he won the Indianapolis 500,
emphasized the Mark Donohue Award is “about personal spirit and performance behind the
wheel. That’s more important for this award than is winning the race. This year Chris Keller
excelled at both.”
Photos of Chris Keller are available upon request. For more information on Chris Keller and
his 2009 plans, please visit www.chriskellerracing.com.
CHRIS KELLER MAKES AN IMPRESSION AT THE
SCCA NATIONAL CONVENTION
Keller receives the prestigious SCCA Jim Fitzgerald Rookie of the Year
Award and the coveted RRDC Mark Donohue Award
Links to more Chris Keller News
Formula Ford Has Also Been The Home To Some Incredible Drivers
Keller Nips Kasemets at the Checkered Flag
Chris Keller Scores Pole and Win at SCCA Runoffs
Keller and Porter Racing Look Strong
Chris Keller Scores Double Wins in Season Opener
Ron Sutton’s Winner Circle New Drivers
Formula TR PRO Series—Rounds 11 & 12 Recap
Skip Barber Shoot-out’s ‘Elite 12’
Skip Barber ‘Sweet 16’ picks Revealed
Chris Keller Impresses at the Red Bull Driver Search
WKA Manufacturer’s Cup Series Champions
WKA Manufacturer’s Cup Grand Nationals
ChrisKellerRacing.com copyright and property of Chris Keller 2009
No information placed on this website - photos or editorial - may be copied or used in any way
without the
expressed written permission of Chris Keller
All rights reserved
(Las Vegas, NV – February 26, 2009) – Chris Keller is certainly well known in open-wheel auto
racing circles. But his notoriety just skyrocketed with this past weekend’s SCCA National
Convention in Las Vegas. Keller received two of the top awards of the day; the SCCA Jim
Fitzgerald Rookie of the Year Award, named after the 1970 National SCCA Champion, and the
highly coveted Mark Donohue Award, presented by the Road Racing Drivers Club (RRDC).
“When they started talking about ‘a karter who had 10 years of experience who was set to win
the Rookie of the Year Award,’ I was thinking that there was no one else that could fit that
description, so it started to hit me that I might get that award. I walked up on stage and was,
obviously, extremely surprised to receive that honor. I thank the SCCA for being so welcoming
to me as a new member, and I promise I’ll be an eternal spokesperson and supporter of their
Club. There's probably no better way to start off a season than a winning this amazing
award!
“The Formula Ford Series is an excellent training ground for any type of formula racing that
teaches maximizing the mechanical grip of the car without any help from aero, which is a skill
you'll need forever in open-wheel racing, and one I hope to utilize as I pursue a career in
IndyCar racing or Formula One.”
The Mark Donohue Award is given by the RRDC for outstanding performance, sportsmanship
and competitiveness during the SCCA Runoffs, which determine the Club’s annual
champions in amateur racing. The award is named for the late Mark Donohue, the American
road racing legend and 1967 President of the RRDC.
“Even though I was born a generation too late to see Mark Donohue race, I’ve read his
autobiography,” said Keller. “I’ve taken to heart his engineering-based concept of the ‘friction
circle.’ Understanding that concept and putting it to use in my go karts and now Formula Ford,
and learning how to tune my cars, has shortened the learning curve.
“Mark Donohue is definitely one of the top road racers of all time, and to have my name
mentioned in the same breath as his is really an honor and a privilege,” Keller said with
respect to the heroes of the sport.
The 20-year-old Keller, of Green Brook, NJ, competed in his first Formula Ford races in 2007,
after spending the 1999 -2007 seasons filling a page with a list of karting series
championships.
Keller’s championship performance in the Formula Ford class during last October’s event at
Heartland Park Topeka (KS) had never been accomplished by a rookie in previous SCCA
seasons.
“In 2008, the SCCA had a double-National two weeks before the Runoffs,” he noted. “I came
out for that to learn the track, but ended up winning both races and setting new qualifying and
race lap records.”
In the National Championship race, Keller put his Swift DB 6 on the pole, but was passed at
the start by both Tonis Kasemets and Tony Coello. He re-passed Coello on the second lap,
re-took the lead on lap 14, lost it again, then re-gained it for good on the last lap to win by
0.136 seconds.
Keller impressed everyone who was there to witness those magic moments, including RRDC
Vice President John Fergus, a six-time Runoffs champion. “Our observers agreed that, in a
tough class like Formula Ford, the skill and patience Chris showed – not making his pass too
early and risk getting re-passed – and the sportsmanship in his driving style, made him an
outstanding choice for the award,” stated Fergus.
RRDC President Bobby Rahal, a Runoffs champion long before he won the Indianapolis 500,
emphasized the Mark Donohue Award is “about personal spirit and performance behind the
wheel. That’s more important for this award than is winning the race. This year Chris Keller
excelled at both.”
Photos of Chris Keller are available upon request. For more information on Chris Keller and
his 2009 plans, please visit www.chriskellerracing.com.
CHRIS KELLER MAKES AN IMPRESSION AT THE
SCCA NATIONAL CONVENTION
Keller receives the prestigious SCCA Jim Fitzgerald Rookie of the Year
Award and the coveted RRDC Mark Donohue Award
Links to more Chris Keller News
Formula Ford Has Also Been The Home To Some Incredible Drivers
Keller Nips Kasemets at the Checkered Flag
Chris Keller Scores Pole and Win at SCCA Runoffs
Keller and Porter Racing Look Strong
Chris Keller Scores Double Wins in Season Opener
Ron Sutton’s Winner Circle New Drivers
Formula TR PRO Series—Rounds 11 & 12 Recap
Skip Barber Shoot-out’s ‘Elite 12’
Skip Barber ‘Sweet 16’ picks Revealed
Chris Keller Impresses at the Red Bull Driver Search
WKA Manufacturer’s Cup Series Champions
WKA Manufacturer’s Cup Grand Nationals
ChrisKellerRacing.com copyright and property of Chris Keller 2009
No information placed on this website - photos or editorial - may be copied or used in any way
without the
expressed written permission of Chris Keller
All rights reserved
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May the best Right foot Win September 25, 2009
This 2009 season Chris Keller is 3 for 3 in the open 125 shifter at each road racing event.
This coming weekend Chris gears up to race the Dart Kart Club National at New Jersey
Motorsports Park, on the Thunderbolt circuit. Chris will be racing a Fullerton FGK with a
Honda 125 in the open class Prepared by Larson Performance.
“This is my second season in road racing, and it is exciting to take on new racing
challenges and styles” Keller won the WKA Grand Nationals earlier this season at Mid Ohio
with a outstanding performance. “Rick Larson builds a dominating piece and this weekend
we will be taking our motor program to a new level. We will be reaching speeds of 130 mph
and it will be a thrill on the awesome Thunderbolt racetrack”
There will be practice all day Friday, and racing events both Saturday and Sunday. The
race
is a 30 minute sprint with pit lane(Le Mans) style start. Be sure to catch the Petit Le Mans
this weekend. For
more information on Chris Keller, New Jersey Motorsports park or Dart Kart Club. See links
below.
http://www.ChrisKellerRacing.com
http://www.njmp.com/
http://www.dartkartclub.com/
This 2009 season Chris Keller is 3 for 3 in the open 125 shifter at each road racing event.
This coming weekend Chris gears up to race the Dart Kart Club National at New Jersey
Motorsports Park, on the Thunderbolt circuit. Chris will be racing a Fullerton FGK with a
Honda 125 in the open class Prepared by Larson Performance.
“This is my second season in road racing, and it is exciting to take on new racing
challenges and styles” Keller won the WKA Grand Nationals earlier this season at Mid Ohio
with a outstanding performance. “Rick Larson builds a dominating piece and this weekend
we will be taking our motor program to a new level. We will be reaching speeds of 130 mph
and it will be a thrill on the awesome Thunderbolt racetrack”
There will be practice all day Friday, and racing events both Saturday and Sunday. The
race
is a 30 minute sprint with pit lane(Le Mans) style start. Be sure to catch the Petit Le Mans
this weekend. For
more information on Chris Keller, New Jersey Motorsports park or Dart Kart Club. See links
below.
http://www.ChrisKellerRacing.com
http://www.njmp.com/
http://www.dartkartclub.com/