Kelly Collins

Collins began his racing career in motocross at the age of seven, before switching to single-seaters in 1990, competing in the Barber Saab Pro Series. Following that, Collins primarily competed in the IMSA Firehawk Series for the next five years, while working full-time as an instructor for the Skip Barber Racing School. In 1996, while in line to get a hot dog and a beer at the 24 Hours of Daytona, Collins was approached by Jay Cochran, who gave him his seat in Alan Friedman's Porsche 911 Carrera RSR two hours into the race. On his IMSA GT debut, Collins drove 11 of the 24 hours and finished 17th overall and tenth in the GTS-2 class after the engine blew up with 20 minutes to go.

Racing part-time in the IMSA GT Championship for the next three seasons, Collins most notably won the 1998 Sebring Classic in the GTS-3 class, whilst also making sporadic appearances in the FIA GT Championship in 1997. In 1999, Collins began the year by winning the 24 Hours of Daytona for Porsche-fielding Alex Job Racing in GTS-3, before winning the 12 Hours of Sebring with them in the GT class. Seeing out the ALMS season in the GTS class, Collins mainly raced for fellow Porsche customer team Martin Snow Racing, taking a pair of podiums, as well as making his debut for Corvette Racing at Petit Le Mans alongside Andy Pilgrim and Scott Sharp.

Joining the Corvette factory stable in 2000, Collins raced a Chevrolet Corvette C5-R on a part-time basis in ALMS, winning Petit Le Mans and placing third in the GTS class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Pilgrim and Franck Fréon. Remaining with the Corvette squad for 2001 for an expanded program, Collins began the year by finishing second in GTS at the 24 Hours of Daytona alongside Pilgrim, Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Returning to ALMS for the rest of the year for a near full-time campaign, Collins won Petit Le Mans and took five other podiums to end the season fifth in the GTS standings. During 2001, Collins also returned to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, finishing second in the GTS class with Pilgrim and Fréon.

Continuing in ALMS for 2002, now on a full-time basis, Collins together with Andy Pilgrim won the Road America 500 and the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières, as well as taking seven other podiums in the ten-race season en route to a third-place points finish. During 2002, Collins, Pilgrim and Fréon also took their third consecutive class podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, finishing second in GTS. In the 2003 American Le Mans Series, Collins partnered Oliver Gavin to win the Grand Prix of Atlanta and the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières, taking fourth in the GTS points with four other podiums to his name. Collins also raced at the 24 Hours of Le Mans during the year, finishing second with Gavin and Pilgrim in GTS.

Exiting Corvette and switching to the Rolex Sports Car Series in 2004, Collins mainly competed in the DP class, in which he took two podiums for G&W Motorsports. He returned to the GT class towards the end of the season, winning at Fontana for BMW-fielding Prototype Technology Group and making two ALMS starts for Panoz Motor Sports. Remaining with PTG for his maiden full season in Grand-Am in 2005, Collins scored a lone win at Mid-Ohio and two other podiums to end the year 14th in the GT standings. Collins then joined The Racer's Group for the 2006 season, sharing their Pontiac GTO.R with Paul Edwards. In his only full season with the team, Collins won in Mexico, Homestead-Miami and Phoenix en route to a third-place points finish.

Remaining with Pontiac machinery for 2007, Collins and Edwards switched to Banner Racing, taking wins at Barber and Utah to end the year runner-up in the GT points. In 2008, the pair began the season by winning at Homestead-Miami, Phoenix and Lime Rock, before ending the season with a win in Utah to seal the GT title. Continuing with Banner Racing for 2009, Collins and Edwards scored a lone win at the Homestead-Miami finale, as well as six other podiums to end the year runner-up in points. After a quiet campaign the following year, headlined by finishing third at the 24 Hours of Daytona for TRG, Collins made select appearances in the 2011 Pirelli World Challenge and the 2013 American Le Mans Series for Porsche-fielding TruSpeed Motorsports.

Career Summary

Complete American Le Mans Series results

(key) Races in bold indicates pole position. Races in italics indicates fastest lap.

^† Did not finish the race but was classified as his car completed more than 70% of the overall winner's race distance.

Complete Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results