Houk dominates Speedrome Midgets

By Ken de la Bastide

Indianapolis – Former Kenyon Midget Series champion Ayrton Houk put together a perfect night Friday at the Indianapolis Speedrome. Houk set fast time during qualifications, won his heat race and led all 30 laps of the feature race.

Ayrton Houk and his JK Racing team celebrate in victory lane at the Indianapolis Speedrome (Aaron Skillman photo)

Following the two heat races, Houk pulled a zero for the inversion which put him on the front row along side of defending champion Dameron Taylor. Houk took the lead at the start chased by Jackson Macenko, Taylor, rookie Jalen Cox and Kyle Ford.

While Houk remained on the point there was an intense battle for the second spot among Taylor, Macenko and Cox.

The race was red-flagged on lap 18 when the midget of Brian Harmon made contact with the front straight retaining wall and flipped to a stop. Harmon was unhurt.

A second red-flag waved on lap 22 when Phil Brown appeared to have lost an engine putting fluids on the track.

Prior to the stoppage Taylor and Macenko were swapping the second spot once or twice on every lap with Cox and Ford lurking just behind. On the 23rd circuit Taylor and Cox got inside of Macenko for the second and third spots. But on the final lap Macenko passed Cox in the final corner to come home in third.

“My car was hooked up tonight,” Houk said following his fourth career win and second at the Speedrome. “The JK Racing machine was just awesome it was on rails.”

He said starting up front is something not to be upset about. “Everybody was shuffling around all night,” Houk said of the tight racing. “It was good racing. Jack (Macenko) and Dameron (Taylor) were on my tail the whole night, keeping me honest.”

Taylor said it was fun battling for position. “I wish we would have run more laps, because I do well in passing lapped traffic,” he said.

Macenko said there was tight racing upfront and Taylor was braking later going into the corners. “I was a little frustrated,” he said.

Cox said he was pleased with the effort in only his second time racing on pavement. “On the last lap I wasn't going to wreck us out,” he said.

Houk captured the K&K Marketing Fast Qualifier award with a time of 12.236 edging out Taylor and Macenko.

Houk and Taylor each won a KRJ Race Products heat race, both for the second time this year. Each received a $100 bonus for winning their heat races provided by HARF and Dave Simmermon of Jeff Hill Trailer Sales.

The Advanced Racing Suspension Hard Charger award was earned by John Robbins who started 15th in the feature and drove to a sixth place finish.

Cash Wyke advanced six positions to finish seventh and Taylor Tecco moved up three spots to finish thirteenth.

—-

The Kenyon Midget Series now moves on to Paragon Speedway on May 20th for the first dirt race of the season.