Huntsville’s Kelly Wood has started her preparation for a career in NASCAR, following a winter of testing various race car classes in Florida and some spring dates at Mosport,

The 18-year-old Wood has now decided that she is going to make a career for herself in racing stock cars. She has already run several successful tests at the Mosport oval and is now ready to race. She has just purchased a car and will be running at Kawartha, Barrie and Sunset in preparation for a full season in the Canadian Tire Series in 2009.

Following an invitation by the crew chief Rino Montanari of the number 9 Dodge, Mark Dilley, Wood is now a member of the pit crew. There she is going to get the opportunity to work and meet with both drivers and team owners, which will help her build a relationship with the many people involved in the NASCAR Canadian Tire series.

With any sport, having a good coach is vital and Wood said she is fortunate to have one of the best driver coaches/crew chiefs in the Canadian Tire series helping her.

Although Montanari is Dilley’s crew chief, his support, help and advice has been invaluable in helping her break into stock car racing.

“So many people are helping me at the moment, and I am so grateful to all of them,” said Wood.

Wood and her team will be appearing at the Robinson’s Independent Grocer store in Huntsville July 3 to 4 and other venues yet to be announced throughout the season where she will have on display her show car and some of her winning go karts plus her fully equipped race trailer.

 “We are hoping to raise people’s awareness and show them a little of what goes into running a successful race team,” said Wood. “I am very excited about this year but the real challenge will come in 2009 when I enter the full NASCAR Canadian Tire Series where I will be competing against drivers with many more years experience. I did it once in karting, I see no reason why I cannot do it again and win a championship in NASCAR one day.”

For more information, visit www.kellywoodracing.com.