Hayes reflects on 2022 season

By Ken de la Bastide

INDIANAPOLIS – Kenyon Midget Series owner Brad Hayes reflected on the progress the series has made this past year in his first year of ownership.

“It was a fun season,” Hayes said Saturday. “I didn't know what to expect when we purchased the series last year.”

Hayes said during the year there were 30 drivers that competed with 19 of them being rookies.

He said there were five different feature race winners, eight different heat race victors, six that took home K&K Marketing Fast Qualifier honors and five that earned the Advanced Racing Suspension Hard Charger award.

“We're hoping to grow the purse money for 2023,” he said.

During the year the series had 103,674 views on the Facebook page, which was an increase of 400%.

Hayes began to outline the 2023 race season which will see a minimum of five race with the 500 Sprint Car Tour. The Kenyon Midget Series will be on the same racing program as the 500 Sprint Car Tour for three races at Anderson Speedway and two at Berlin Raceway. Hayes said the 2023 champion will receive a $2,000 bonus to use to advance their career to sprint cars in the future.

The series is returning to the Indianapolis Speedrome for one or two races and one or two races at Paragon Speedway in southern Indiana.

“We're trying to get an even number of dirt and pavement races in 2023,” Hayes said. “Right now we're looking at between 13 and 15 races in total next year.”

The 2023 season starts on April 8 at Anderson Speedway and ends on Oct. 7 at Anderson Speedway. The full season schedule will be released once all dates have been finalized.