9 rookies set for season opener
By Ken de la Bastide
A stellar field of 17 competitors is expected for the Kenyon Midget Series season opener at Anderson Speedway. Among the 17 listed entrants for the Dick Jordan Classic on Saturday there are nine rookies among the competitors, two former champions and five former race winners.
Brad Hayes is entering the second year as owner of the series. This will be the fifth year for the Dick Jordan Classic which is named to honor the former long-time official with the United State Auto Club.
There have been four different winners in the Jordan Classic with Dameron Taylor the 2022 winner. He joined Ayrton Houk, Sam Hinds and Kameron Gladish as race winners.
Over the past two years the racing on the high banked quarter-mile oval has produced seven different winners in 11 races. Taylor the defending series champion has pulled into the Anderson Speedway winner's circle four times in the past two years. Houk, the 2021 champion, has purchased a Kenyon Midget and plans on racing with the series as often as possible this year. Other former race winners in the field are Clayton Gaines with seven wins and Logan and Ryan Huggler, each with three victories.
Kyle Ford, the 2022 rookie of the year, is hungry for that first win with the Kenyon Midget Series and came close at Anderson a couple of times last year. Tanner Tecco the most improved driver of 2022 returns for a second full-season with his sister, Taylor.
Based on the practice sessions, the 2023 rookie class is bringing lots of talent to the series. John Robbins, listed as a rookie in a midget, is a former track champion at Anderson Speedway in the Legends and Thunder Roadster divisions. Robbins is uncertain about his plans for the year with the series. Dezi Pedregon made several starts in 2022 and is looking to make a run for the rookie honors and a first win with the series. Jeff Hill is scheduled to start the Dick Jordan Classic and will share the ride during the year with Kyle Sheard. Landon Brown, Cash Wyke, Buddy Hollmeyer, Evan Hammond, Phil Brown and Brian Harmon are planning to run the full schedule.
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The season opener for the Kenyon Midget Series takes place at Anderson Speedway on Saturday April 8. The night also features the 500 Sprint Car Tour Glen Niebel Classic. Spectator gates open at 3:30, with qualifying at 5:00 and racing at 6:00. This event will be live streamed by MAVTV on FloRacing.