Houk masters Berlin oval
Berlin top three finishers Kyle Sheard (2nd), Ayrton Houk (1st), and Andrew Patterson (3rd). Photo by Aaron Skillman
By Ken de la Bastide
MARNE, MI – Ayrton Houk became the first driver in Kenyon Midget Series racing action to record two wins this season. After missing several races Houk returned to action Saturday at Berlin Raceway, it was his first appearance at the track.
Kyle Sheard earned his first K&K Marketing Fast Qualifying award and drew a zero allowing him to start on the pole position. On the start Houk powered from his second starting position to claim the lead chased by Sheard. Several times Sheard closed to the rear bumper of Houk but was unable to make the pass to record his first career win.
Behind the two front runners there was tight racing for the third through sixth spots with Andrew Patterson coming home in third followed by Jeff Hill and Tanner Tecco. Point leader Kyle Ford finished sixth with Dameron Taylor coming home in eighth.
“I felt the pressure,” Houk said of Sheard's late race push for the victory. “I could see the shadow in turn three. The front end on the car went away in the middle of the race.“I'm really happy to get the win,” he said. “This was my first time at this track and it was a steep learning curve.”
Houk scored his fifth career feature win and second of the year having won in May at the Indianapolis Speedrome.
Sheard not only claimed his first fast time with the series but scored the win in the KRJ Race Products first heat over Ford and Patterson.
Houk went three wide entering turn one at the start to win the second heat race with Evan Hammond and Taylor rounding out the top three.
Sheard finished sixth in the Kenyon Midget Series first visit to Berlin Raceway and followed that with a fifth place run in the Don and Mel Kenyon Classic at Anderson Speedway. Hill finished third in the first visit to Berlin.
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Feature Results: 1. Ayrton Houk, 2. Kyle Sheard, 3. Andrew Patterson, 4. Jeff Hill, 5. Tanner Tecco, 6. Kyle Ford, 7. Evan Hammond, 8. Dameron Taylor, 9. Landon Brown, 10. Buddy Hollmeyer, 11. Clayton Gaines, 12. Taylor Tecco, 13. Cash Wyke, 14. Phil Brown.