Devin Kelly got his first taste of competition racing BMX bikes as a teenager. Since then, he developed a love for auto racing and has been working hard in his Legends career. Hoping to one day pass the sport on to his future kids, Devin has been enjoying creating connections at the track and encourages people to not take it too seriously. After all, we all started racing for the fun!
Hometown: Bolton Connecticut
Division: Semi-Pro
Number: 93
Team: TS Motorsports
1. How did you get into racing?
I first got into racing when I was four or five years old, my parents took me to Riverside Park to watch a race and I became a fan from there. As a teenager I raced BMX bikes which was my first taste of competitive racing. I then got into auto racing when I was 22. I bought a Camaro and started doing track days. I became an instructor, did some time trials, and did instructing with some exotic driving experiences. That was really my first step into performance driving. After that I bought a Legend Car and here I am. The Legend Car is by far the most challenging car I’ve ever driven. It drives a lot like heavy, high horsepower cars, and I think it’s just as much fun.
2. What is your favorite part of a road course?
I think something flowy is my favorite, so maybe a technical section. This weekend at VIR the esses were really fun, or the downhill sections. Elevation that kind of flows with a technical aspect as well as the high-speed corners where the cars are sliding around. Those give a good sensation to the driver, as long as it allows for side-by-side racing too.
3. Did you lean on anybody for help when you first started racing Legend Cars for help on Road Courses?
I think I only did one or two race weekends before I met Shaun Buffington from TS Motorsports. I introduced myself to him and immediately felt at home with his crew. Between his mentorship and the way he sets up cars I couldn’t feel any more comfortable than do there. His network of drivers is helpful with mentoring as well. Jase Mongeon is a phenom behind the wheel and he has been someone good to lean on when I have some driving questions for sure.
4. If you could race any road course in the world, which would you choose?
Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama. It’s not an option for Legend Cars, but it has some really unique elevation changes with the corners, and it flows really well while still having a technical aspect to it. And it’s just an absolutely gorgeous facility. I’ve never seen grass that green at a racetrack before. It’s just beautiful.
5. How do you get focused or in the zone before a race?
To get into the mindset, I get into my car and tune out all other distractions. As soon as I’m belted in I just kind of slow down and almost relax to the point where I could fall asleep. The alone time in the car is my only routine. I try to stop thinking about how I’m going to preform and focus on just doing the basics. If I do the basics and stay relaxed, the speed comes after that. When you overthink turn one, or a specific moment, I think it builds up too much pressure. It makes it more likely that I’m going to make a mistake than if I just relax and have the mentality that I’m doing it for fun.
6. Is there a story behind the number 93?
When I started racing BMX, I was issued the number 993. I always thought it looked cool so ever since then I’ve used it or 93 for two digits. It’s been my favorite since then.
7. What are your ultimate racing goals?
Well, I’m 35 years old, so my dreams of doing this professionally set sail twenty years ago. I think my goals now are to be as competitive as I can be at my age, and to stay relevant with driving until I have kids who are old enough to appreciate Go-Karts. I’d like to be that cool dad that gets their kids into racing. I think it would be a lot of fun to pass that passion on to the next generation.
8. What has been your favorite racing memory?
I don’t think it would be a specific memory, but when I think of the happiest times I’ve had at the racetrack, it’s always hanging out in the pits or garages and getting to know people. The connections you make at the racetrack are second to none. I think those are the best memories that I have. That is what I look forward to the most, and what I miss the most after. Without that I think the appeal of racing could be lost.
9. What is the biggest lesson racing has taught you?
The biggest lesson I would say is to not to take it too seriously. At the end of the day this is for fun, and if you take it too seriously you will lose that.
10. Who is your role model or someone you look up to in racing?
I don’t think I have a specific role model, but I’ll see good examples from people every day. Sometimes, people will also set an example of what you don’t want to be like, and you learn from them that way. Just bits and pieces from everyone.
11. Do you have any hobbies outside of racing?
Outside of racing I do CrossFit almost every day. It helps me a lot for being in the car and driving. I also really like mountain biking. I’m a big activities guy, I don’t sit still very well.
12. What surprised you the most about racing when you first started?
Definitely the intensity. I always thought I was a competitive individual, but I think the intensity that comes from racing is far higher than any other sport. The intensity never dies down from start to finish. There is always someone trying to take what you have, or you are trying to take it from someone else. I think that is the biggest surprise that I’ve encountered. For me the intensity goes away as soon as I take the helmet off though. And it sounds cliché, but you hear drivers all the time say that they are a different person when the helmet goes on, but it really is true. What happens on the track stays there and you can joke around outside of it.