Kellan Rogers-Ashby

Kellan Mackenzie Rogers (born January 24, 1994 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada) is a Canadian race car driver who made her stock car debut at the 2012 Brno Grand Prix in the Dash Cup series. She runs a part-time schedule for Matthews Motorsports, driving the No. 46 Canadian Tire STS.

Rogers also competes full-time in the reconstituted RROL Elite Series, driving the No. 116 A&W Matthews M12 T-Type for the same team.

She is the younger sister of current ARLA and TM Lights driver Tiffany Matthews. Her brother-in-law is team owner and current TM Master Cup driver Ryan Matthews.

Pre-stock car career
Rogers' early racing career mirrored her sister's in sorts, but she did not experience near the success her sister did. At the age of sixteen, instead of jumping to the late model ranks, Rogers elected to race more locally, splitting time between the weekly racing series held at Barrie and Mosport. "Fact is, I just didn't think I was ready," she said in a 2011 interview with the Toronto Star. "I tried to get to as many of Tiffany's races as I could, and I learned a lot watching her. At the same time, I saw her struggle, which was something I didn't want to do. But I knew that once I felt I was ready, there'd be an opportunity for me to advance."

That opportunity came during the 2010-11 offseason, when her brother-in-law offered Rogers the opportunity to run in the Can-Am Series — in the same car her sister drove. Both of the Matthews Motorsports drivers were leaving to pursue careers in the Vaughn Stock Car Championship, and team owner Ryan Matthews didn't want to just abandon the series completely. Rogers reluctantly accepted, still believing she needed more seasoning before joining a touring series. "I thought I still needed another year," she said. "But Tiffany convinced me to give it a shot."

Rogers stepped into the No. 16 Lenard for the 2011 season, but as almost to confirm her suspicions, she ran poorly in the first four races of her career. This was in spite of inheriting a car, and a team, that finished third in the points the year before. A last-place finish at Boston International Speedway did little for Rogers' confidence, and she had even considered leaving the team. However, a pep talk from Tiffany proved to be the medicine Rogers needed. "I was a mental case," she said. "I was so discouraged. I was ready to pack it in and go home. But Tiffany talked me through it. I think we talked for two hours over the phone after that race. That conversation I had with her got my mind right."

Rogers went out and set the pole at Mosport the next week, setting a track record in the process. She led the first 30 laps, and though she finished third thanks to a late pit stop, the effort was enough for her to get on a roll. Rogers did not win a race in that 2011 season, but added a couple more poles to her resume and a few top-five finishes as well. The Can-Am Series awarded Rogers with the Rookie of the Year award after the season.

"I didn't think I'd be here," she said at the awards banquet. "I started so poorly, and my confidence was shot. If it wasn't for my sister's help, I don't think I'd be here now."

Matthews Motorsports was impressed by the young Rogers' performance, and decided the time was right for her to make the move to stock cars, again, following in her sister's footsteps.

Dash Cup
Matthews Motorsports initially had planned for Rogers to join the VSCC for the 2012 season, taking over the former No. 85 car driven by sister Tiffany, who had since moved on to ARLA. That changed, however, when that league folded abruptly after the 2011 season. With few options available, Ryan Matthews suggested that Rogers try the Dash Cup – a European-based stock car series that he thought would be a good fit for her. "I wasn't sure how she'd react to it," he said. "As far as I knew, Kellan had never been to Europe for anything. To my surprise, she was very receptive. So I made an inquiry and, to my surprise, there were part-time spots available. The rest of the deal came together quickly."

2012
Rogers made her debut at the 2012 Dash Cup Brno GP, at the Masaryk Circuit in the Czech Republic. It was a completely new experience for the 18-year-old, she was in a country she'd never visited, racing on a track she'd never seen before qualifying, in a car she'd only driven in testing – and with car owner Ryan Matthews in attendance. In spite of all the pressure, Rogers responded well - qualifying 13th. She also showed great poise in the race - finishing 10th and capping off a successful debut.

"I wasn't sure how things were going to go," she said after the race. "This is all new to me. These cars have more power than the late models I drove last year, and I'm not used to road courses. I guess it showed a little when I drove off-track there."

Matthews was impressed by Rogers' perseverance.

"I thought Kellan did a fantastic job," he said. "Especially after she went off-course there. Most other novice drivers would've overcorrected and wrecked the car. She kept her cool, and she was rewarded for it. I couldn't be more proud of her."

Her second start, in the Japanese Grand Prix at the Osaka Street Circuit started worse than her debut at Brno: she qualified poorly, starting 30th on the grid. But through her own talents (and attrition), she managed to work her way through the field and brought her car home in 10th place – her second consecutive top-10 finish.

"That's really cool," she said. "The car felt terrible after qualifying, but we made a few changes to the setup and we got better as the race went on. Oh, and avoiding all the crashes helped."

The first of Rogers' oval appearances came at Twin Ring Motegi, where she started down the grid in 21st place. She made her way through the field quickly, showing the skill she showed in her earlier two races. By halfway, she was mixing it up with Patrick Eichholtz and eventual race winner Alexander Sybilton. She would eventually finish second – her first career top-five and third consecutive top-10 finish.

"Damn it. I really wanted to win this thing and shut Ryan up," she said, referring to her in-team nickname of "Princess Slow" (see below). "We had a fantastic car today, and I just can't believe we couldn't get there.

"I'm so glad Trey made it out here," referring to ARLA driver Trey Ashby, whom Rogers had been dating since they met at Indianapolis (see below). "I think he had something to do with my doing so well. But to be honest, I really wanted to win for him. I think he'll take this, though."

Spa GP: Sister act
With the news that Matthews Motorsports would attempt to put a second car in the 2012 Spa GP with Tiffany Matthews behind the wheel, Rogers had the opportunity to do something she never had the ability to do: race alongside her sister. The two were seeded into the same qualifying race, and while Matthews made it in easily, Rogers' trip to the main event was a thriller to the end, as she took advantage of an error by Rence Brown late on the final lap to make the show.

"I didn't think I was going to get there on the last lap," Rogers said. "Rence raced me tough, but clean. We were getting down to the last half-lap, and I just couldn't get past him. Then he goofed, and that opened the door for me to get where I needed to go."

"I don't know what I'm more excited for: the chance to get another top-10 or to race with Tiffany again," Rogers said. "I guess I'll say both!"

Rogers started 12th based on her qualifying time, and worked her way up into the top 10. With her sister also in the field, her boyfriend in the pit area, and her car owner on the pit box, Rogers brought her car home in sixth place. It continued one of the more remarkable debuts in Dash Cup this season, as she ran her top-10 string to four in a row.

"Wow," she said after the race. "I can't believe it. I've been blessed with a few good runs lately, and I'm thrilled that we were able to get another one. The beat goes on!"

Toddring GP: The streak ends
Rogers looked to run her impressive top-10 streak to five at the high-speed Toddring, and in the early going of the Toddring GP, it looked like she would do just that, even running as high as second at one point after starting 17th. But she would be involved – twice – in the crash on Lap 17 that took title contender Carla Rosinski out of the running, and instead of a fifth top-10 run, Rogers had to settle for her first career DNF.

"I'm a little sore, but I'm OK, first off," she said, referring to the tail-end of her incident in which her STS did a roll. "I really thought I had a chance after I got through that second wreck with just a set of flat-spotted tires. My Canadian Tire STS was a rocket all day, and I just hate it for everybody that we had to end like this. Oh well, off to New York, I guess."

2013
Rogers will move to the No. 30 car fielded by Eichholtz Atlantic Motorsports, taking over for the departing Daniel Miller. "We've been looking at her for a while now, and we think she is going to fit very well with the team," said team co-owner Ben Atkins. "Both me and Jacob noted her as a potential for the 30 car, but her performances have been pretty stellar. I think she'll be good next season; definitely one to look out for on the No. 1 spot!"

RROL Elite Series
With the revival of the RROL Elite Series, the plans for Rogers to race there were dusted off. Her first race was the 2012 RROL Daytona 250.

She didn't qualify all that well, starting near mid-field. Rogers was caught in the first incident of the day, but her Matthews M12 received little damage and continued on. She later would brush the wall in the tri-oval, but would eventually bring her car home in 10th place.

"I thought we were done for after that first wreck," she said after the race. "I'm thrilled we were able to get a decent finish after what happened."

At Ohio Motor Speedway, Rogers started 26th, but managed to make her way up through the field and came home in sixth place for her second top-10 finish of the young season.

"They're gonna have to start calling me 'Miss Top 10'. It's what I do," she said, laughing. "No, seriously though, I thought we'd have issues after that incident with Mayland. I don't know what he was thinking, trying to dive down like that. Thankfully it didn't matter, and we got another good finish out of it."

Rogers' next two results were not as heady, as she finished 14th at Tampa and a disappointing 24th at Memphis. She currently sits tied for 25th in the points.

ARLA Elite Series
Rogers attempted to make the 2012 Mini Indy 500, driving the No. 106 I.W. Eagle Lenard in place of her brother-in-law, who was in Wales for the TM Master Cup race there. Despite drawing the pole for her qualifying race, Rogers dropped through the field, finishing in 32nd place, well outside the transfer positions. Her performance (or lack thereof) prompted Matthews to dub her "Princess Slow" (see below).

Rogers officially made her ARLA debut at Auto Club Speedway not for Matthews Motorsports, but for Ike Durbin, Inc. in that team's No. 86x car. Rogers was lent to Ike Durbin's organization for the race as the team's regular driver, Mac Rhylen, was away on a personal leave of absence. As an additional favor to the team, Matthews Motorsports permitted I.W. Eagle, who is the sponsor of the team's part-time entry, to sponsor Rogers in the race.

Rogers didn't qualify all too well, starting 27th on the grid in Race Two, but she managed to make her way through the field thanks to both attrition and her own abilities – even mixing it up with series veteran Andy Pearson at one point. She got as high as ninth, but an engine failure with 21 laps to go ended her day. She would end up finishing 17th – the last car to retire from competition.

"I've been so busy the last few weeks, I'm amazed I can still stand up," she said. "But it's all been worth it."

"I know I'm not here long, but I wanted to show the guys at Ike Durbin, Inc. that I can take care of their stuff," she said. "And I did for the most part - that is, until the engine let go. But I had a good time out there."

Her performance not only impressed the OEN broadcast team of Scott Bush and Earl McDermott, but her (temporary) employers as well. Both Durbin and Rhylen praised Rogers' performance over Twitter, with Durbin saying, "Everyone here at Ike Durbin, Inc. is very proud of @kellanrogers for her wonderful performance, it's too bad the engine let go."

Rhylen added, "watched the race, great run tho @kellanrogers, glad to have you filling in for me."

Rogers also filled in for Rhylen for the race at the Talladega Superspeedway. She qualified in sixth place, and narrowly avoided the first-corner incident triggered by James West.

"That was a lot of fun," she said. "I really thought I was cooked there when West had a brain fade, but when I saw the trouble was behind me I think I exhaled a little."

"I want to thank Ike Durbin for giving me another shot in his car, too," she added. "There's nothing like seat time. I hope it's good preparation for Rockford, and for my Dash Cup schedule next year."

Rogers will attempt to make the 2012 Rockford 200, where both her brother-in-law and her sister are also scheduled to compete. She will drive a No. 146 Lenard with sponsorship from '''Need Gone! Liquidators'''.

Personal life

 * Is dating ARLA Elite Series driver Trey Ashby, having met him at the pre-race concert for the Mini Indy 500.
 * Refuses to use capital letters in any circumstance (see quote above), even to the point where she won't even sign her name using them. Similarly, the name above the windows on her RROL and ARLA cars is also written in lower-case.
 * Has developed a bit of rivalry with Verity Logan over Twitter, though this has cooled off recently.

"Princess Slow"
After Rogers' performance in Mini Indy 500 qualifying, team owner Ryan Matthews began referring to her as "Princess Slow", much to her annoyance. After she took to Twitter to lament the nickname, Matthews promised her that if she won any of her upcoming Dash Cup races, he'd drop it.

She came the closest after Motegi, where she finished second.