Bohanon brings experience to Salem race

Clayton Bohanon climbs in for his first Kenyon Midget Series race at Kalamazoo Speedway. (Aaron Skillman photo)

By Ken de la Bastide

In his first starts in a Kenyon Midget in Michigan, Clayton Bohanon said the new experience was fun. Bohanon, 16, will be making his fourth start in a Kenyon Midget when the series travels to Salem Speedway which is owned by his family.

He has raced numerous times in a Legend car on the Salem Speedway oval. Bohanon is competing for a second year in a Legends car having started racing in a quarter-midget at the age of 7.

“It was harder to drive than a Legends,” he said of the Kenyon Midget. “It was more like driving a real race car, more responsive.”

“I was pleased,” Bohanon said of his first races in a Midget. “I should have done better the second night at Berlin, but I changed my line.”

He finished fourth at Kalamazoo and scored an 11th and 8th place showing at Berlin.

“I feel like having raced at Salem will give me a little advantage because I know the track,” Bohanon said.

He didn't know if he would be competing in additional Kenyon Midget races this year which is dependent on the Legends racing schedule. Bohanon said he has no definite plans yet for 2025.

“My dad used to race and put me in a quarter-midget,” he said of getting his start in racing. “Right then I decided I wanted to race.”

Bohanon is a sophomore at Henryville High School in southern Indiana and would like to eventually open his own business.