Drivers ready to tackle tricky Mt. Lawn oval
By Ken de la Bastide
Every race track has it's own unique characteristics, but none as challenging as Mt. Lawn Speedway. The three-tenths mile oval features a long sweeping front straight and the famous “home plate” fourth turn.
Ayrton Houk won the visit to the Henry County racing facility in 2021.
Entering the weekend, there have been four different winners in the first four events with Dameron Taylor, Trey Osborne, Jack Macenko and Thomas Schrage pulling into victory lane.
Macenko enters the weekend with a five-point lead over Osborne following the Anderson Speedway race.
Taylor said he's only run at Mt. Lawn once in a Legends car. “Consistency is definitely a key, which will be the hardest part in an open wheel car because of all the bumps,” he said. “There is a big bump on the back straight and you need to figure out the tight corner. Try to get in as quick as you can, rotate and pick-up all of their speed on the front straight.”
Macenko said the track is a lot of fun . “It's a real driver's track, very challenging and you definitely have to hit your marks there,” he said. “Both corners are really different. One is a heavy braking zone into a hairpin and one really fast long left hander.” He said the short corner is a good opportunity to make a pass if your confident using the brakes and can make an inside move. “I think it's really possible to race side by side,” Macenko said. “If you miss your mark in that little hairpin, you'll lose a lot of time.”
Osborne said last year at Mt. Lawn he had a lot of speed until the motor expired. “It's a lot of fun, I like the technicality to it,” he said. “It's kind of like a road course in some ways depending on how hard you brake.” Osborne said he really enjoyed the “home plate” corner. “Definitely have to hit your marks,” he said. “If you brake a little too early or a little too late you have screwed up your lap.
Rookie of the year point leader Dave Osborn said the track is tight, fast and flat. “I call that corner home base,” he laughed. “You almost have to park, turn left at home plate and head to first base. “It's a neat little track,” Osborn said. “It will make you a better driver if you learn how to drive it.” Osborn agreed there is not much room for error at Mt. Lawn Speedway.
Clayton Gaines said he raced at Mt. Lawn in a Thunder Roadster, a drastically different car than a Kenyon Midget. “Handling will be completely different,” he said. “I'm looking forward to it and don't really know what to expect. It's a baseball diamond, so you have to hit your marks.”