Crossword Genius

Set off shortly in US races in shame (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

indignity

'shame' is the definition.

'set off shortly in us races' is the wordplay.
'set off' becomes 'ignite' (ignite can mean to set off or trigger).
'shortly' means to remove the last letter.
'in' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'us races' becomes 'indy' (Indy 500 motor race).
'ignite' with its last letter taken off is 'ignit'.
'ignit' put within 'indy' is 'INDIGNITY'.

'in' is the link.

(Another definition for indignity that I've seen is " Disgrace; dishonour".)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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