Houk taking next step in racing career

By Ken de la Bastide

Former Kenyon Midget Series champion Ayrton Houk is ready to take the next step up the open-wheel racing ladder in 2023. Houk won the Kenyon Midget Series championship in 2021 and competed full-time last year in the F1600 open wheel series. He captured four victories in the F1600 series and finished second in the championship chase to fellow Kenyon Midget competitor Thomas Schrage.

“I had a really great season,” Houk said of the 2022 season. “This year I'm moving up to F2000 racing and my dad purchased a Kenyon Midget so I will be competing in a number of their events.”

During his tenure with the Kenyon Midget Series, Houk recorded three victories on his way to the championship, winning at Anderson, Mt. Lawn and the Indianapolis Speedrome.

“I'll be running five or six races with the Kenyon series this year,” Houk said. “I'll be racing some of the pavement and dirt races. I'm looking forward to getting back to Anderson and I'm excited about the race at Berlin Raceway,” he said.

Houk competed in two Kenyon Midget Series events in 2022 finishing third at Mt. Lawn Speedway and 14th at Anderson. He was the fast qualifier at the opening race of the season at Anderson and won one of the KRJ Race Products heat race. The defending series champion started 15th in the feature after changing a tire and climbed to sixth before making contact with the outside retaining wall.

Houk also scored a heat race win at Mt. Lawn last year and recovered to finish on the podium after tangling with the car of Clayton Gaines while battling for position.

Like many of the competitors, Houk said for the Kenyon Midget Series to be racing at the same time with the 500 Sprint Car Tour is “really cool”.

Houk has completed high school and is currently enrolled at Purdue University. He deciding between seeking an engineering or finance degree.

“Right now I'm just getting ready for the season to start,” he said.