Houk, Schrage making mark in F1600

Photo: Formula Race Promotions

By Ken de la Bastide

Two drivers that have competed with the Kenyon Midget Series are dominating the F1600 series season. F1600 is a top level open wheel formula racer that is competing at road courses throughout the eastern half of the U.S. To date there have been 15 events with Ayrton Houk and Thomas Schrage having posted wins in ten of the races.

Schrage, who recorded his first Kenyon Midget Series win earlier this year at Anderson Speedway has recorded six wins, five runner-up finishes and one third.

Houk, the 2021 Kenyon Midget Series champion, has won four times, has two second place showings and three thirds.

Prior to the the last three races Houk had the point lead but that changed on the Illinois road course. The series allows the competitors to drop three races during the season and with six more races remaining, Schrage is dropping a did not finish early in the season, a fifth and 15th place showing. Houk's worst performance to date is a 16th place finish along with a 13th and tenth place finish. Schrage has the point lead with 603 markers with Houk in second with 544 points. Considering the three drop rule Schrage has 555 points to Houk's 496.

“I'm having a successful year,” Schrage said. “I started racing in 2020 with a family owned car. “I had an opportunity to drive for Rice Race Prep and they saw something in me,” he said. Entering the final six races with the point lead, Schrage said the goal is to pick-up enough points every week and finish all the races. “I should be fine,” he said. “It's possible to lose the point lead, but we have fast cars that are capable of winning a few more races. I knew who I had to beat (Houk).”

Schrage said racing with the Kenyon Midget Series on the dirt tracks has helped him when racing in the rain on road circuits. He said in the F1600 races it's important to maintain momentum.

“We're having a lot of fun,” Houk said. “We have a good rivalry going on. Thomas is fun to race against because he is a good driver, aggressive, but races clean,” he said. Houk said he has to put his head down during the final six races to get the point lead back. “Racing the Kenyon Midget has helped,” he said. “It helps with driver development and on the short track ovals you have to be slow and smooth on the pedal. “That carries over to road racing where some of the corners are tight and it's important to maintain momentum,” Houk said.