Anderson races to decide 2024 champion
Ryan Huggler celebrated his first win of the 2024 season at Kalamazoo Speedway. (Aaron Skillman photo)
By Ken de la Bastide
The crowning of a 2024 champion for the Kenyon Midget Series will come down to the final two races on the tough Anderson Speedway oval.
Ryan Huggler is looking for that first championship and has been competing with the series for many years.
The 2023 series rookie of the year, Evan Hammond, is also looking for his first championship. Hammond competes as a father/son team with his father John.
Dameron Taylor is a three-time champion and has visited victory lane many times over the past few years.
Huggler enters the weekend with an 88 point lead over Hammond and is coming off a victory at the Paragon Speedway. In the two Anderson races this year, Huggler has recorded a pair of sixth place finishes.
Huggler got his first win at Anderson in 2017. “That's a track I feel very comfortable on with how often we've raced there over the last 11 years,” he said. “The double header spices things up a little bit, but I'm excited for the final weekend.”
Huggler said with the tight points battle the goal is to just run his race and fight for the win. “Ultimately keep my nose clean,” he said. “If we can do that, I think we'll be in good shape for the championship.”
Evan Hammond on the podium at Berlin Raceway. (Aaron Skillman photo)
Hammond, who won the Redline Ace rookie of the year honors a year ago at the last race, said the team has been working on the set-up at Anderson to better suit his driving style. “We had a mechanical issue at the last race, but we tried some changes to make the car handle better,” he said. “We're hoping to take our results at Anderson up to the next level. We'll have a good shot at it,” Hammond said. “Anderson has been a strong race track for us.”
In five starts at Anderson he has a third and fourth place finish and was K&K Marketing Fast Qualifier earlier this year.
Hammond said the father/son team started racing karts which was a good base to move up to the Kenyon Midget Series.
“We've really progressed a lot,” he said. “I've exceeded my expectations.
Dameron taylor took victory at Anderson Speedway in July. (Aaron Skillman photo)
Taylor has five wins at Anderson Speedway since the 2021 season and is currently third in points with a season high five wins. “If I can sweep both races,” he said, “and see how it plays out. I've got a good set-up for the car and the track is usually faster in October with the cooler temperatures and the rubber from the sprint cars,” Taylor said.
He said to win a fourth championship would be an awesome accomplishment. “I'm proud of what I've done this year,” Taylor said. “I have been more consistent this year than in 2017 when I won five races.”
He said depending on the results from the first feature, he might decide to start the second feature on the tail of the field. “It would be a good show for the fans if I can climb up through the field,” Taylor said.
Taylor also said that Huggler has raced a lot smoother than in years past. “He ran the season like he was racing for points,” Taylor said of Huggler. “I'm proud of how he has raced this year.”
The Kenyon Midget Series finishes the 2024 season October 5th at Anderson Speedway. The event will be live streamed by DIRTVision.