Learning the ropes

By Ken de la Bastide

Four drivers hoping to compete for rookie of the year honors with the Kenyon Midget Series got their first seat time at the challenging Anderson Speedway. The four drivers were joined for the opening practice session at the high banked quarter-mile oval on March 26 along with veteran campaigners Aryton Houk, Clayton Gaines and John Robbins.

“It was fun, I really enjoyed it,” Cash Wyke said after taking to the track the first time. “The car felt comfortable.” Wyke figured out the racing line around Anderson Speedway by watching some videos of prior races. “I had some prior knowledge going into it,” he said. “The high banks were fun and fast.”

Phil Brown was all smiles after turning his first laps in a Kenyon Midget. “It was a blast,” he said. “There's a lot of power compared to what I'm used to. A lot of fun, it was a little bit loose but I picked it up pretty quick. Not too bad for the first time out.”

Brown said he loved racing the high banks. “I have nothing to compare it too, because I've always been driving on a flat track. The high banks were a lot of fun. About what I expected the speed would be like.”

Evan Hammond used the first practice session to just feel out the car and finding the line around Anderson. “This is a lot different than the go kart tracks,” he said. “Waiting to go out for practice, I was a little nervous. I got used to the car, tested the limits a little bit.”

Hammond said he was getting comfortable in the car.

Landon Brown commented on the speed of the Kenyon Midget. “It was a lot different than what I was used to, he said. “It accelerates fast and in a go kart you don't accelerate that fast. “It was pretty nuts, you really feel it,” Brown said of the high banks at Anderson. “It's going to take me some time to figure out the line here, I spent the first practice session figuring out the car,” he said. “I was feeling more comfortable as the session went on.”