Macenko a championship contender

By Ken de la Bastide

Every racer has their own personal “bucket list”, for Jack Macenko it’s winning at Anderson Speedway.

Macenko, 18, won rookie of the year honors with the Kenyon Midget Series in 2018 and was in the 2021 championship battle up until the last race. “I’d like to think I’m one of the favorites,” he said of the upcoming season. “Last year there were some things that didn’t go my way.”

Macenko has been a consistent front runner at the challenging high banked quarter-mile Anderson Speedway, but a victory has eluded him over the years. “It haunts me,” he laughed. “My bucket list is to get a win at Anderson. It would be pretty cool to get a win there.”

Macenko has recorded two victories in the Kenyon Midget Series including the first visit to the Circle City Raceway. He considers himself to be a pavement specialist so the victory on the dirt oval in Indianapolis was special.

Macenko started racing karts at the age of 8 and the next step was to the Kenyon Midgets. “I can’t say what the next step will be,” he said of his future in racing. “It depends on money. I would love to get a ride in a pavement sprint car.”

A senior at Elder High School in Ohio where he is a member of the lacrosse team, Macenko plans to attend the University of Cincinnati to major in finance.

“I will continue to race while in college,” he said. “My desire is to continue my racing career.”

Macenko said he was happy that Brad Hayes purchased the series and that Don and Mel Kenyon are going to continue to be a part of the series.

“I’m looking forward to going to the three new tracks,” he said of the schedule that includes Gas City, Montpelier and the return to Shadybowl Speedway. “Every race is different,” Macenko said.