Kart champion to run full season

By Ken de la Bastide

Ohio's Cash Wyke is bringing championship credentials to his first season with the Kenyon Midget Series. Wyke, 13, won championships in two divisions with the Ohio Valley Karting Association in each of the past two years. The 13-year old, turns 14 in February, is an eighth grade student at Harrison Jr, High School in Middletown. Wyke has been racing go-karts for the past eighth years on pavement on road course circuits including the facilities in New Castle, IN.

His dad, Bruce, at one-time raced quarter-midgets. “Where going to run the whole Kenyon Series,” Wyke said. “It's a great step up from karts. We've been building up to the next level.” Wyke said he learned about the Kenyon Midget Series from other competitors in karts and two-time Kenyon Midget winner Thomas Schrage.

The teenager has never been in a Kenyon Midget and has never competed at any of the tracks on the 2023 schedule. “I hope to go fast, learn and get better every time I'm in the car,” Wyke said. “I'm looking forward to racing on both the pavement and dirt ovals.”

He has watched Kenyon Midget races at the Indianapolis Speedrome and Anderson Speedway. “I don't know the other tracks at all,” Wyke said. “The plan is to be at every practice that is scheduled before the start of the season.”

He said sharing the racing program with the 500 Sprint Car Tour at Anderson, Berlin and Lorain will provide added exposure to car owners.

Like many competitors, Wyke said obviously a racing career in Formula One or Indycar would be a future goal. “But more realistically, I would like to race a USAC Midget and race at the Chili Bowl,” he said.