Huggler sweeps Anderson races to claim championship
Ryan Huggler celebrates a feature win and a Championship with family and friends in victory lane at Anderson Speedway. (Rick Kimball photo)
By Ken de la Bastide
ANDERSON, IN – Ryan Huggler put an exclamation point on the 2024 season by winning both ends of a twin features Saturday at Anderson Speedway.
With his victory in the first of the two feature races, Huggler locked up his first championship with the Kenyon Midget Series just by starting the second feature. It marked his third consecutive win and fourth of the season.
Dameron Taylor collected the K&K Marketing Fast Qualifier award for the first race followed closely by Huggler. The re-draw put Logan Huggler on the point with rookie driver BJ Shaw on the outside of the front row.
Logan Huggler took the lead at the start with his brother Ryan moving into the second spot with Landon Brown running third. Ryan Huggler took the lead from his brother on lap four and opened up a comfortable lead. Taylor moved into the third spot on lap eighth and Evan Hammond moved around both Jase Petty and Brown to claim the fourth spot.
The only caution flag waved on lap 19 when Buddy Hollmeyer made contact with the turn four retaining wall.
On the restart Ryan Huggler claimed his first win at Anderson since 2017 followed by his brother, Logan, and Taylor.
Ryan Huggler was fast qualifier for the second feature race which saw Hammond take the point at the start chased by Ryan Huggler and Landon Brown. Taylor brought out the only caution of the race for a spin on lap five. Ryan Huggler took the lead from Hammond on the 11th circuit and drove to a 2-second win with Petty coming home in third followed by Taylor and Jett Neal.
Landon Brown was named the Redline Ace Rookie of the Year.
“Winning means a lot,” Huggler said in the Riley & Sons Victory Lane after the first feature. “It took the pressure off the second race.”
Huggler said he was pleased with his performance at Anderson Speedway.
“It was clean racing,” he said.
Hammond said Huggler is more comfortable at Anderson than he is.
“Just need a little bit more experience,” he said.
Petty with his first podium said it was the best he ran all season.
“Just need a little more time in the car,” he said. “I could run upfront with the leaders all night.”
The Kenyon Midget Series will celebrate its Champions and other award winners at a banquet on November 2, at Speedway Indoor Karting.