Berndt a long distance traveler for Kenyon Midget events
By Ken de la Bastide
Marcel Berndt preparing to hit the track at Gas City I-69 Speedway (Aaron Skillman photo)
Most drivers competing with the Kenyon Midget Series hail from states predominately in the Midwest. But after failed attempts to compete with the series in the past because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Marcel Berndt travels from Germany to compete with the series on race weekends.
Berndt, 34, was born in Berlin and races in Europe, Australia and America with sponsorship support from ISUZU Europe. The German veteran racer is quick to share a laugh and smiles at the race track and mingles comfortably with his fellow competitors. He races GT4 cars, Legends and the European version of late models.
“In Europe there is a really small community involved in oval track racing,” Berndt said why he flies to compete with the Kenyon Midget Series. “Everything is on pavement.” His goal is to learn how to race on a dirt track and is only competing in the Kenyon Midget Series at the dirt ovals and the 75-lap pavement race at Anderson Speedway.
Berndt said the track at Montpelier was good because he likes short straights and longer corners.
“I had never raced a Midget before,” he said. “The competition learns very fast.” Berndt finished 12th at Montpelier but bounced back with a fifth place showing at Gas City I-69 Speedway. He was in Gas City on June 3 and the next morning was flying 30 hours back to Germany.
Berndt said he makes a living racing cars and works as a tire engineer for 15 hours per week. He started racing motocross at the age of 2, advanced to soap box racing, karting and for the past 20 years has been racing cars.
Marcel Berndt on track at Gas City I-69 Speedway on June 3, 2022 (Aaron Skillman photo)
“The Kenyon cars are the best step from Legends cars to Midgets,” Bendt said. “The plan is to eventually advance to USAC Midgets and Sprint cars.” He has watched the Lucas Oil Little 500 at Anderson Speedway on social media and would be interested in eventually running the race.
Berndt said he has dated his girlfriend for nine years but she doesn't travel to America for his races. “I want to be alone and focus on the racing and not on my girlfriend,” he said.