Kelly Shows Grit With Fourth-Place Run In Pensacola

Colton Kelly's No. 18K Pro Truck at Five Flags Speedway. (Tonia Kelly photo)

PENSACOLA, Fla. – Colton Kelly turned what he called “the hardest race I’ve ever run” into a fourth-place finish Saturday night at Five Flags Speedway.

Driving his familiar No. 18K Pave America Pro Truck, Kelly qualified fourth with a lap of 18.831 seconds around the half-mile paved oval, but started from the pole position after an invert of four was set for the feature lineup.

Using that early track position, Kelly led the first five laps of the 30-lap main event before being passed by eventual winner and class veteran Steven Davis, falling into a fierce battle for the rest of the race for spots in the top five.

Kelly never dropped lower than fifth, however, scrapping mightily with the likes of fellow Race Face Brand Development driver Matthew Laprade and Kenny Gibson before crossing the finish line fourth.

It marked Kelly’s eighth straight top 10 finish this season and his best result yet at the track which plays host to the Snowball Derby, the crown jewel of super late model racing, each December.

“To have my strongest qualifying lap yet and be able to lead some laps at a track as challenging as Five Flags, I’m really happy to walk away with a top five,” Kelly said of his weekend. “That really was probably the most I’ve ever had to push behind the wheel just to fight for every position. These guys are no joke and you learn so much in battles like that; I feel like I definitely gained a ton from this one.

“It’s progress for us as a team, and that’s what we come to the racetrack seeking every week.”

Kelly would like to thank Pave America, Southern Protection Agency, Southern Drywall, Grant and John Thompson, Race Face Brand Development, and the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation for their partnership and support of his racing efforts.

With his regular season complete, Kelly’s next race is undetermined at this time and will be revealed when details are available.

About Colton Kelly

Colton Kelly is a 14-year-old racer from Villa Rica, Ga., who has been fulfilling his need for speed on the racetrack since 2017, when he began quarter midget racing at the age of five.

Kelly’s resume in motorsports features more than 100 quarter midget victories, as well as 10 track championships in his home state of Georgia.

A four-time runner-up in the Southeast-based Dixie Shootout Series point standings, Kelly also has two national quarter midget victories with the NASCAR Youth Series and was the 2023 NASCAR Youth Series Senior Honda division champion.

For 2025, Kelly will graduate out of quarter midgets and turn his focus to Pro Truck racing, where he’ll drive the No. 18K with sponsorship from Pave America, Southern Protection Agency, and Southern Drywall, under the mentorship of Grant and John Thompson.

When not behind the wheel or at a racetrack, Kelly enjoys fishing, skeet shooting, and playing soccer. He is recognized as a top youth skeet shooter in the state of Georgia, all while maintaining honor-roll and Dean’s List status in school. On the charitable front, Kelly is a supporter of the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation’s efforts to better the quality of life for children battling pediatric cancer and their families.

For more information, visit his website at www.coltonkellyracing.com.