Gaines excited about return to Kenyon Midgets

By Ken de la Bastide

After trying his hand at other forms of racing, Clayton Gaines is returning to full-time competition with the Kenyon Midget Series. Gaines, 24, was the series rookie of the year in 2013 and has recorded seven feature wins with the Kenyon Midget Series over the years.

This year Gaines recorded a fourth place finish in the season opener at Anderson and a ninth place showing at Montpelier Speedway. He is currently sixth in the point standings, 87 behind leader Trey Osborne.

With the support and encouragement of his grandfather, Ed, Clayton started racing Quarter-Midgets at the age of 10 at the Kokomo facility. After running full-time with the Kenyon Midget Series, Gaines started competing with the Indiana Thunder Roadsters.

“I'm very excited to be back running the full season,” Gaines said. “I want to try to get in the point battle.” “The Thunder Roadsters were a blast,” he said. “I liked racing at Winchester (Speedway), but there weren't many cars. “I like what I'm doing now,” Gaines said. “When I wanted to race full-time it was a job and it took all the fun away. Now I'm looking to have fun.”

Gaines said he likes the fact the series runs on both pavement and dirt tracks and that the car count has increased in 2022. “I won all three dirt races one year at U.S. 24 and Limaland,” he said. “I do like running at the dirt tracks.” Gaines said the competition with the Kenyon Midget Series this year has gotten a lot tougher. “I like the variety in the schedule,” he said. “It's a good mix of dirt and pavement tracks.”

Gaines said if an opportunity arises he would like to land a ride in a sprint car.

A resident of Alexandria, Gaines works full-time as a welder.