Jack Daniel's Racing team-mates Todd and Rick Kelly head to The Island 300 at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit this weekend with clear winning potential.

Todd Kelly claimed a qualifying race win at the fast seaside circuit just two months ago at the L&H 500, with the brothers teaming up to finish fifth and show strong car speed all weekend.

Since that event the team has stepped up its pace, showing podium potential at both Bathurst and Surfers Paradise.

Entering these three last events of the 2009 season, the Kelly brothers are seeking to score podium results to finish the first season of their new team on a high note.

The Island 300 at Phillip Island is being staged as a result of the postponement of the Gulf Air Desert 400 in Bahrain, which will now be the second event of the 2010 series.

JACK DANIEL'S RACING QUOTEBOARD

Rick Kelly - #7 Jack Daniel's Racing Holden Commodore:

"For us Phillip Island is a happy hunting ground with the amount of pace we had there earlier this year," said Rick Kelly.

"However the temperatures will be quite different so we expect the track to have less grip, which will move the goal posts a bit.

"Like any event, we're hoping for a great result there and right now with the pace we've had at the last three rounds, I'm personally really enjoying my racing.

"I'm really excited about going to each event with the team with the pace we've got and that alone carries a fair bit of weight.

"It's an exciting prospect to possibly bring home the team's first trophy and that's our main priority - even trying to win.

"But I am also seventh in the championship and whenever I see a car around me that is within reach of us in the points I do take that into consideration because I'd love nothing more than to try and finish in the top five in the championship in our first year.

"If we could do that it would be an amazing achievement in our first year. We're seventh now so it's a big ask but it's still something we're concentrating on."

Todd Kelly - #7 Jack Daniel's Racing Holden Commodore:

"After a disappointing Surfers weekend it's good to head to Phillip Island as it's where we had our first race win back in September," said Todd Kelly.

"We'll start off with a set-up on the Jack Daniel's Commodore similar to what we had there last time and see how we go from there.

"I love Phillip Island. It's a really good, high-speed driver's track where you've got to have a bit of commitment and our cars generally work really well there.

"So I can't wait to get back and if it's going to happen for us this season, this is a good place for it to come for us given our past form there."

KEY FACTS:

- Race winning form for the Kelly brothers at Phillip Island ...

* Todd Kelly won the first of two qualifying races at the L&H 500 at Phillip Island endurance event earlier this year. Rick claimed a qualifying race win at the same event last season

* Rick Kelly clinched his 2006 V8 Supercar championship crown at Phillip Island while it was brother Todd who won that event

* Phillip Island has been a happy hunting ground for the Kellys, with Todd winning four individual races at the Island and Rick having qualified in the top 10 and finished in the top 10 overall every year from 2004-2009

* Both Todd and Rick have won pole at Phillip Island in the past, Todd in 2006 and Rick in 2007

JACK DANIEL'S RACING DRIVERS AT PHILLIP ISLAND:

Todd Kelly - #7 Jack Daniel's Racing Holden Commodore:

Earlier this year at PI ...

2009 Qualifying: Second
2009 Qualifying Race: FIRST
2009 Race: Fifth

Todd Kelly was 2006 overall event winner at Phillip Island
Also second overall in 2002 and 2007

Debut: 2000
Events: Nine
Races: 21
Best Qualifying: POLE (2006)
Top 10 in Qualifying: Seven
Best Race Finish: FIRST four times
Race 1 - 2006
Race 2 - 2006
Race 3 - 2007
Qualifying Race - 2009
Top 10 Finish in Race: 16

Rick Kelly - #15 Jack Daniel's Racing Holden Commodore:

Earlier this year at PI ...

2009 Qualifying: Third
2009 Qualifying Race: 30th
2009 Race: Fifth

Rick Kelly was third overall for the event in 2005 at Phillip Island

Debut: 2002
Events: Seven
Races: 16
Best Qualifying: POLE (2007)
Top 10 in Qualifying: Five
Best Race Finish: FIRST (Qualifying Race - 2008)
*Best ‘normal' race finish is Third (Race 3 - 2005)
Top 10 Finish in Race: 11

2009 V8 Supercar Championship Series
Points Standings after Race 20 of 26
1. Jamie Whincup 2605
2. Will Davison 2573
3. Garth Tander 2316
4. Craig Lowndes 2175
5. Mark Winterbottom 1862
6. Steven Johnson 1838
7. Rick Kelly 1658
8. Lee Holdsworth 1655
9. Russell Ingall 1586
10. James Courtney 1586
17. Todd Kelly 1373
26. Jack Perkins 867
30. Mark McNally 392

THE ISLAND 300 DETAILS:

Circuit: Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit
Location: Phillip Island, Victoria
Circuit Length: 4.446 kilometres
Format: 100km race Saturday and 200km race Sunday
2009 Qualifying Driver A Pole: Paul Dumbrell
2009 Qualifying Driver B Pole: Mark Winterbottom
2009 Heat Race A Winner: Todd Kelly
2009 Heat Race B Winner: Mark Winterbottom
2009 L&H 500 Winner: Garth Tander & Will Davison

 

WEEKEND SCHEDULE
All times are local Australian Eastern Standard Time (Qld)
Add 60 minutes for Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Time

Saturday 7 November 2009
10:10am - 10:40am: Practice
12:15pm - 12:35pm: Qualifying
12:50pm - 1:20pm: Top 10 Shootout
3:35pm: Race 1 (Series Race 21) - 22 laps

Sunday 8 November 2009
10:35am - 10:55am: Qualifying (for Race 2)
2:05pm: Race 2 (Series Race 22) - 44 laps

TELEVISION SCHEDULE - SEVEN NETWORK
Times subject to amendment - please check local guides.

Sunday 8 November 2009
12:00pm - 5:00pm AEDST

Saturday's race can be viewed live online at www.bigpondtv.com