Ford caps Kenyon Midget title with Anderson victory
Kyle Ford celebrates in victory lane at Anderson Speedway (photo by Aaron Skillman/Georgetown Road)
By Ken de la Bastide
ANDERSON – Kyle Ford capped off his championship season by winning the final Kenyon Midget Series race of the season. In his second season with the series Ford claimed the championship over defending champion Dameron Taylor. It was Ford's first career win at Anderson Speedway.
As a result of the inversion following qualifying Saturday, Ford started on the front row with Tanner Tecco along side. Ford took the lead at the start with three-time champion Taylor moving into the second spot chased by Logan Huggler, Clayton Gaines and Tecco. The race was red-flagged on the 19th lap when BJ Shaw did a gentle rollover on the front straight, but was able to continue.
Taylor took the lead on the restart with an outside move of Ford entering turn one. On the 25th lap Taylor washed up the track which dropped him back to forth which but Ford, Tecco and Gaines in the top three. Rookie Evan Hammond was running fourth followed by Taylor and Huggler.
At the finish it was Ford winning for the fourth time in 2023 by eight-tenths of a second over Tecco with Gaines, Hammond and Taylor rounding out the top five.
“When I saw the car upside down and the red-flag, I knew I would have to be on the top of my game,” Ford said in the Peterman Brothers Victory Lane. “Dameron (Taylor) got a good start on me and I had to fight all the way to the end. “I knew my car was better and was able to close up on him and make the pass in turn three.
“Brad Hayes Racing gave me a phenomenal car all year,” he said. “All the competitors are so close and it's tough competition. You have to stay on your A game the entire time.”
With his fourth place finish Evan Hammond was able to claim the Redline Ace Rookie of the Year honors by three-points over Cash Wyke, who led the rookie chase for much of the start of the season. Wyke finished tenth in the field with the third contender for rookie of the year honors Kyle Sheard coming home in ninth.
Taylor led the entire distance to win one of two KRJ Race Products heat races with Sheard moving into second at the start. Sheard spun in turn one after tangling with Ryan Huggler.
Taylor won by .8-seconds over Logan Huggler with Shaw coming home in third. Wyke and Sheard rounded out the top five.
Clayton Gaines made a three-wide pass entering turn one of the second heat race and made the move stand up for the victory. Ford finished .209-seconds back followed byTanner Tecco, Hammond and first-time competitor Macy Williams.