Hammond has realistic goals for 2023

(Jack Kessler photo)

By Ken de la Bastide

Like anyone attempting something for the first time, Evan Hammond wants to savor the experience of his rookie season with the Kenyon Midget Series. The 18-year-old senior at Southport High School has been racing karts for five years and wanted to climb the next rung in the racing ladder.

“I know a lot of guys coming over from karts to the Kenyon Series and raced against them before,” Hammond said. “There has been a buzz at the kart tracks about the Kenyon Midget Series.”

Hammond said it was a good opportunity to move forward with a racing career.

“I want to keep it realistic this year and obviously any race car driver wants to win,” he said of goals for the year. “Rookie of the Year is the ultimate goal.”

Evan said he wants to learn every time the midgets are on the track. “I'm looking forward to getting my feet wet and learn the feel of the car,” he said. “Everything is new, this is a new world for me.”

Hammond has never raced on a dirt oval but is looking forward to the opportunity and believes it will be a lot of fun.

“I've watched some races at Anderson and saw the sprint cars run,” he said. “It seems like a fun track with the banking and I've never been on a track like that.”

His experience to date in a Kenyon Midget is a drive around the block in the neighborhood. Hammond is planning to run the full season and has sponsorship from his father's company, JD Hammond Inc.

“I just want to make money racing,” he said of the long run. “This is my life. I love racing. Live and breath it.”

He will be attending the University of Indianapolis to get a degree in mechanical engineering.