By: Ashley McCubbin

While the focus for A.J. Foyt Racing last week was signing Kyle Kirkwood for the 2022 campaign, team president Larry Foyt also confirmed they are close to bringing Dalton Kellett back for a second season.

“I imagine we’ll get it done here pretty soon,” Larry Foyt told the media. “We’re just ironing out some details. I think the intention from both sides is there. I think we’ll get it done, and excited to see how he continues to grow with his driving. He definitely showed some great pace on some of the ovals and did a great job at some of the street courses, as well.”

In his first full campaign in the NTT IndyCar Series, the Canadian scored six top-10 finishes, with a season-best 12th at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway.

“Well, I think he’s just a very calculated driver,” Foyt told NEWS FROM THE PITS. “He’s actually an engineer. He’s a schooled engineer. He does think about it a lot and is really good at looking at data and trying to figure out how to go faster. He’s been improving over the weekends, and that’s all we asked of him to do as he showed up and where he was at and just trying to keep improving.

“That’s what we’ve seen. He’s still got a little bit to go, but he’s on the right track, so I think that’ll be good for him.”

As Kellett moving into 2022, Foyt says the focus will be improving their qualifying, and being able to lay down and work with the engineers for the “ultimate lap at the right time,” knowing “when to push on the tire when the tire is there and ready.” Notably, Kellett’s average starting spot last season was 24th.

“That’s the biggest thing because some of these courses it is to tough to pass, and when everybody is within a few tenths of a second, it’s really hard to pass,” Foyt explained. “So qualifying is important and getting that ultimate lap is something that he’s still working on, and Kyle has a rookie will have to work on that, as well.

“If you qualify tenth in INDYCAR you’ve beat a lot of good cars and good drivers. Everyone trying to get that ultimate lap, that’s a big challenge on INDYCAR weekends.”