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February 19^th, 2003

Kelly gang to hold-up V8 field after team promotions

  V8 Supercar racing's `Kelly gang’ hope to terrorise the track this season, as brothers Todd and Rick are elevated to prime seats on this year's grid.

The Kmart Racing team today announced Rick Kelly has ousted his older brother for the seat alongside Greg Murphy.

But Todd won't be left in the lurch - his promotion to the premier Holden Racing Team is expected to be confirmed on Monday.

Twenty-year-old Rick, last year's Rookie of the Year in the HRT-prepared Young Lion Commodore, said the brotherly rivalry will heat up this year.
 
"I'm excited about taking Todd's place at Kmart Racing, it's a great team, one of the best in V8 Supercars," he said.

"Like most brothers, we've always competed against each other with anything we've had or done - toy cars, motor bikes, fishing, whatever.

"It's all about who has bragging rights and while Todd has done a great job with Kmart Racing over the past two years, I'd like to have them at the end of the year, so the competition is on."

Rick said his brother had paved the way for his own meteoric rise, from karting through Formula Ford, Formula Holden and now the V8 Supercar championship.